Espanyol 2 – 4 Barcelona – rezal404
Barcelona have been crowned LaLiga champions for the first time since the 2018-19 season after beating city rivals Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday.
A comfortable victory over the relegation-threatened hosts at the RCDE Stadium means Xavi Hernandez’s side are 14 points clear of Real Madrid in second and 16 ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid with four games of the season remaining.
Goal machine Robert Lewandowski scored twice (11, 40) with Alejandro Balde (20) and Jules Kounde (53) also on the scoresheet as Barca cruised to their 27th league win of the campaign.
Javi Puado (73) and Joselu (90+2) pulled two goals back for Espanyol before the final whistle but it was too little too late for the home side. They stay 19th and are four points from safety after suffering back-to-back defeats.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Barcelona beat local rivals Espanyol to seal the title
Barcelona have now won the Spanish top flight 27 times – only Real Madrid have more titles (35) – but their celebrations were short-lived after a large group of Espanyol fans invaded the pitch from behind one of the goals and started running towards the newly – crowned champions.
The visitors had to rush into the changing rooms and security guards quickly intervened, but riot police had to stand in front of the tunnel’s entrance to prevent the supporters from going in.
Xavi: Title shows Barca on right path
Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez: “It’s a magnificent feeling, a feeling of job well done.
“This is important to give the club’s project some stability. The league title shows that things have been done the right way and that we have to stay on this path.”
What’s next?
Barcelona will have the opportunity to celebrate winning the LaLiga title in front of their own fans next Saturday when they take on Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp; kick off 8pm.
Espanol continue their fight for survival next Sunday when they make the trip to 11th-placed Rayo Vallecano; kick off 1pm.
