Barcelona defeats Espanyol to win the La Liga championship

At the residence of their neighbors, the Catalan giants won their 27th Spanish title.

Barcelona defeated Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday to reclaim the La Liga championship from rival Real Madrid for the first time since 2019.

At the home of their neighbors, the Catalan giants won their 27th Spanish title, but things turned violent at the end as Barcelona players were escorted off the field by pitch invaders.

Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde also scored for Barcelona, and Robert Lewandowski scored twice for them. Late in the game, the hosts got two goals back through Javi Puado and Joselu.

Barcelona has had a difficult time lately, both on and off the field, but their victory today represents a huge turnaround, and coach Xavi Hernandez has won his first key title since taking over in November 2021.

Given the club’s precarious financial state, President Joan Laporta’s rebuild received harsh criticism last summer.

Although an early Champions League exit was disappointing, the club rebounded in January by winning the Spanish Super Cup and then clinching La Liga victory with four games remaining.

“It’s a magnificent feeling, (of) work well done,” Xavi said to Movistar.

“Ten months of effort and hardship. The club and the supporters both deserve it, and it provides us stability and assurance that things are going well.

“With a fantastic game, we sealed La Liga. We were brilliant.”

Barcelona’s first team took the field with one goal in mind and the end in sight after Xavi made no unexpected lineup changes.