Barcelona secured their 28th LaLiga title with a 2-0 victory over Catalan rivals Espanyol, wrapping things up with two matchdays to spare
The cacophony of expectant noise that greeted both teams as they took to the pitch at the RCD Stadium was quickly replaced by boos and whistles as Barcelona took control of the early exchanges, and yet the visitors’ high defensive line almost gifted Espanyol’s Urko Gonzalez a fourth-minute opener.
As the game began to take on a familiar pattern, Robert Lewandowski’s fizzing shot on 12 minutes gave Barca their first sight of goal, whilst at the other end, Javi Puado should really have done better when clean through.
Despite having over 80% possession in the opening quarter-hour, the crisp, clean passing that has become Barcelona’s hallmark was less fluid than usual, due in no small part to the intensity with which the home side were hunting their opponents down.
With the hosts content to hit Hansi Flick’s side on the break, the visitors were again indebted to Wojciech Szczesny in the 25th minute as the keeper’s sprint from goal averted more danger.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha struggled to have an impact for Barca before the break, as Pedri’s long-range effort and another Lewandowski half chance were as close as the Blaugrana went before the half-time whistle sounded.
Half-time sub, Alejandro Balde, helped inject some urgency and width to Barca’s play, and the increase in pressure soon paid off. Just seven minutes after the break, Lamine Yamal found the top corner with an incredible curling strike.
Subsequently, the 17-year-old began to have much more of an influence on proceedings thereafter as the visitors looked to put the game to bed quickly.
Ten shots compared to Espanyol’s four evidenced the shift in Barcelona’s favour, with the former caught in two minds as to whether to attack or not as the half progressed.
On one of the occasions when they did, Barcelona needed a point-blank save from Szczesny to keep out an effort from Roberto Fernandez.
When Leandro Cabrera was sent off after punching Lamine, the visitors’ hopes of securing glory on the night only increased, and, in injury-time, a well-worked move saw Fermin Lopez blast home the second to guarantee the three points.
The win not only clinches another league triumph and a domestic treble this season, but also means that they’ve not lost any of their last 16 LaLiga games (W14 D2), their best unbeaten run in the competition since a run of 19 between December 2020 and April 2021 (W16 D3).
They can now bask in the glory of their success over the next couple of weeks. Espanyol, meanwhile, are still not clear of the relegation dogfight, and with two games left to play, Los Periquitos still need at least a point to survive.
