Barcelona, amid the absence of the legendary Lionel Messi, triumphantly have a good time their conquest of the Spanish league by overpowering Espanyol 4-2 in a riveting encounter Sunday.
Sadly, the festivities have been dampened by a bunch of unruly Espanyol followers storming the sphere and inflicting the Barcelona gamers to make a hasty retreat to the sanctuary of the locker room.
Displaying a powerful efficiency, Robert Lewandowski’s brace propelled the Catalan membership to their first league title since 2019, with 4 rounds nonetheless remaining within the competitors.
Barcelona gamers have a good time successful La Liga after beating Espanyol, Barcelona, Spain, Could 15, 2023. (Reuters Photograph)
This wonderful feat arrives two years after Messi’s departure amid the membership’s monetary turmoil.
Notably, the final occasion Barcelona reveled in a league victory with out the influential presence of “La Pulga” dates again to the 1998-99 season.
Messi joined the primary group in 2004-05 and clinched the league title in his debut marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, the jubilant ambiance on the pitch was short-lived as a deluge of fervent Espanyol supporters from the extremely part behind the aim charged towards the Barcelona gamers, singing and reveling within the middle.
Safety personnel swiftly intervened, however riot police needed to fortify the tunnel entrance to forestall the unruly followers from infiltrating.
Regrettably, the supporters resorted to hurling chairs and different objects of their frustration.
Apart from Lewandowski’s heroics, Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde additionally contributed to Barcelona’s triumph by discovering the again of the online.
With this victory, Barcelona now boast a powerful complete of 27 league titles, trailing their arch-rivals Actual Madrid by a mere eight.
Atletico Madrid, at the moment positioned third, languish 16 factors behind after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Elche, who at the moment occupy the underside spot within the league standings.
Securing an insurmountable 85 factors from 34 matches, Barcelona emphatically claimed the highest spot, establishing a 14-point lead over Madrid, who secured a 1-0 victory towards Getafe on Saturday.
A outstanding defensive report, conceding solely 13 targets all through the season, cements Barcelona’s dominance, surpassing another membership by a staggering margin of 14 targets.
The group has additionally collected a powerful tally of 25 clear sheets.
Exultant at their outstanding accomplishment, Barcelona coach Xavi expressed his elation, stating, “It is an exhilarating feeling, a testomony to a job nicely performed. This triumph gives the membership’s mission with much-needed stability. The league title signifies that we now have adopted the proper path and should proceed to take action.”
Beforehand, Barcelona clinched the Spanish Tremendous Cup in January, marking their first main trophy following Messi’s departure.
This achievement arrives as a welcome final result following President Joan Laporta’s proactive measures to restructure the membership’s debt and rejuvenate the squad with the addition of notable gamers equivalent to Lewandowski, Kounde, and Raphinha.
Laporta joined the gamers within the locker room to revel within the celebrations.
Lewandowski wasted no time in making an impression throughout the match, opening the scoring within the eleventh minute from shut vary after a well-executed cross from Balde.
The 19-year-old left-back showcased his prowess by doubling Barcelona’s lead simply 9 minutes later, capitalizing on a move from Pedri to safe his first league aim for the membership.
Lewandowski, main the league’s scoring charts with a powerful 21 targets, struck once more within the fortieth minute, changing a low cross from Raphinha throughout a swift counterattack.
Kounde additional bolstered Barcelona’s benefit within the 53rd minute, heading the ball into the online following an extended move from Frenkie de Jong.