Last Update: May 15, 2023, 04:10 IST
Barcelona have endured a troubled period on and off the pitch in recent years, but their victories under coach Xavi Hernandez signal significant improvement. (Image: Barcelona / Twitter)
Barcelona won their 27th Spanish Championship at home to their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full-time
Barcelona won La Liga for the first time since 2019, recapturing the title from rivals Real Madrid after beating Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday.
The Catalan giants won their 27th Spanish championship at the home of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full-time as Barcelona players were carried off the field by pitch invaders.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice for Barcelona with goals from Alejandro Balde and Jules Conde.
Barcelona have endured a troubled period on and off the pitch in recent years, but their victory marks a significant improvement, with coach Xavi Hernandez winning his first major trophy since taking charge in November 2021.
President Joan Laporta’s rebuilding the previous summer was widely criticized in light of the club’s perilous financial situation.
Early Champions League elimination was a blow, but the club won the Spanish Super Cup in January, before sealing La Liga glory with four games to spare.
Xavi pulled no surprises with his line-up and the Barcelona first team took to the pitch with one goal firmly in mind, the end in sight.
They put in a fine performance, one of their finest this season, to seal their victory and leave their city rivals in 19th place, four points from safety with four matches remaining.
Barcelona broke the deadlock with a well-worked goal after 11 minutes, finished by Lewandowski for his 20th of the season in La Liga.
Ronald Araujo played an inch-perfect long pass to left-back Balde, who beat Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed for Lewandowski to head home from close range.
Gil was again beaten by Balde for the second goal, this time rounded by the young left-back after Padry darted over the byline and scooped an inviting cross at the back post.
It was Balde’s first goal for Barcelona, capping a season of great success for the youngster, who forced veteran defender Jordi Alba out of the squad.
Lewandowski’s effort was saved by Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco as Barcelona went further ahead to foul the hosts.
– Lewandowski double –
It worked for a while, but the visitors grabbed a third before half-time when Rafinha put the ball on a plate for Lewandowski to roll.
The Polish striker’s arrival from Bayern Munich was a key part of last summer’s rebuild and has paid the Catalan back in goal, despite a slump in the second half of the season.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen pulled off a superb save to deny former teammate Martin Braithwaite from close range in stoppage time at the end of the first period.
Counde headed home the fourth in the second half from a precise chipped pass from Frankie de Jong as Espanyol’s defense broke down again.
Some Espanyol fans led to an early exit, while others demanded the resignation of the board, including an unhealthy chant aimed at the club’s Chinese owners.
Ter Stegen was determined to earn a La Liga record equaling 26th clean sheet of the season in the top flight when the goal was denied by Javi Puado.
However later the Espanyol forward found himself through on goal once again and this time scored with a sublime lob – small consolation in the face of Espanyol’s defeat and Barcelona’s glory.
Joselu pulled another goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.
Xavi’s team celebrated at full-time, to the anger of the Espanyol fans, who invaded the pitch, with Barcelona players running into the tunnel to escape.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
