CHAMPIONS! Barça's victory against Espanyol (0-2) to lift their 28th Liga title

FC Barcelona sealed their coronation in LaLiga 2024/25 with a victory against Espanyol in Cornellà (0-2). A great goal from Lamine Yamal in the 53rd minute set the stage for the 'azulgrana' consecration, with two matchdays left in the tournament, with which Hansi Flick's team closes the season with a historic domestic treble.

After obtaining the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, both against Real Madrid, Barça secured the Liga title with the victory in the Clásico on Sunday (4-3). However, one last step was missing in the Catalan derby and, just like two years ago, the 'culés' sang the championship anthem on 'periquito' territory.

The match was very disputed from beginning to end, with the 'blanquiazules' also needing a win to ensure permanence. In the end, the glory went to a Barça that keeps the title in an undisputed way, in a season in which they crushed practically all their rivals.

Flick tweaked his defense for the Catalan derby

Hansi Flick once again trusted, as against Valladolid, in the Ronald Araujo-Andreas Christensen duo in the center of the defense. The entry of the Uruguayan and the Dane, together with that of Robert Lewandowski in attack, were the only variants of the German with respect to the XI of the Clásico.

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The match began with a rarefied atmosphere, the product of a previous incident on the outskirts of the RCDE Stadium where a group of fans were run over by an unknown car. The event occurred while the 'pericos' fans were waiting for the club's bus and left several injured.

In the 9th minute, the north stand of Cornellà sharpened its protest for what happened before the match and César Soto Grado had to momentarily stop the match. After a brief chat with those in charge of security, the 'ok' was given to the continuity of the match.

Barça started sleepy against an Espanyol lacking aim

The locals started better, very attentive in the high pressure and betting on the filtered passes behind the 'culés' center backs. Roca assisted Urko in the 5th minute, allowing the Basque to get past Christensen and stand face to face against Szczesny, but his shot went wide.

Espanyol warned again in the 12th minute, this time with another volley shot from Javi Puado that did not find the direction of the goal. Barça responded with a good arrival in which Lewandowski rushed to take a whiplash that almost surprised Joan García. 

After the first quarter of an hour, Puado had the clearest chance of the first half for the 'pericos', but Szczesny narrowed quickly and rejected the '7's shot with a remarkable save. The Pole reappeared in the 26th minute, coming out to cut off another very dangerous arrival from Edu Expósito.

Barça struggled to get into the game, beyond the great work of Pedri. The Canary Islander appeared in all sectors of the field to give meaning to the 'azulgrana' possession. In the 31st minute, the '8' tried it with a shot from the edge of the area, but Lamine Yamal and Raphinha did not finish getting into the game.

The youth player also tried it with one of his usual placed left-footed shots, but without disturbing Joan García. Before the break, Lewandowski touched the goal with a volley, after an assist from Eric García, which came out slightly open, grazing the post. It was the only opportunity in the first 45' where the '24' managed to overflow on the right.

In the end, the score remained at zero at halftime, with the 'azulgrana' team much thicker than usual. At halftime, Flick put Alejandro Balde in place of Gerard Martín to give more depth to the 'culé' attack.

Statistics of the first half: Espanyol 0-0 Barça

1. Shots: 3-7
2. Shots on goal: 1-1
3. Possession: 22 % - 78 %
4. Fouls: 3-5
5. Yellow cards: 0-1
6. Offsides: 1-0
7. Corners: 1-1

Lamine Yamal rubbed the lamp to direct Barça's coronation

Lamine Yamal scored Barça's first goal against Espanyol

After the break, Barcelona came out more plugged in, standing near the rival area. In addition to Balde, Pau Cubarsí also entered for Araujo, who left with an obvious discomfort in his right knee. 

The 'culés' struggled to surprise a well-stopped 'blanquiazul' defense, but in the 53rd minute the best player on the planet appeared today: Lamine Yamal. Dani Olmo gave the ball to the Mataró native and he took the opportunity to leave Romero watered and profile himself to his left, taking a perfect shot to the angle, impossible for Joan García.

After 0-1, Manolo González took Pol Lozano, who played infiltrated, to put Pere Milla. However, the goal was a blow from which the locals failed to recover, although the 'culés' still did not generate their usual offensive volume. 

In the 65th minute, Flick put Fermín López in place of Robert Lewandowski to populate the center of the field, without giving a fixed reference in attack. The Pole, on his return, could not score his expected 100th goal with the 'azulgrana' shirt.

Espanyol finished with ten due to an aggression against Lamine Yamal

The locals were close to the tie with two consecutive chances from Pere Milla and Romero, but again Szczesny was impeccable, narrowing in time to prevent the '2's shot at close range.

Barça continued to refresh their lines with the entry of Gavi and Héctor Fort for Christensen and Olmo. In the 80th minute, however, Espanyol was left with one less player after the deserved expulsion of Leandro Cabrera.

The defender gave Lamine Yamal a blow to the abdomen when both players were disputing a ball on the wing. Although the linesman was next to him, he did not signal anything, but the VAR did warn Soto Grado of the aggression.

After reviewing the play on the monitor, the main one showed the '6' the red card. Despite the inferiority, the 'pericos' turned to for the tie in the last minutes, although with little clarity and without aim.

Fermín López sealed the title of LaLiga 2024/25 in added time

In the end, Barça extended the advantage with another great goal from Fermín López in added time. The definition of the Huelva native was remarkable, but the architect of the goal was Lamine, with a remarkable assist despite being surrounded by three rivals.

Without playing a brilliant match, Hansi Flick's team opted for the transfer of Pedri, the interventions of Szczesny and the enormous talent of Lamine Yamal to lift a Liga absolutely deserved.

The 'azulgrana' team reached 27 victories, with 97 goals in favor, 23 more than Madrid. This is the twelfth Liga in the last 20 years for the 'culés' and their second in three years. Without a doubt, the 24/25 will be remembered for the comebacks, the showiness of the ultra offensive game of the team and victories against Real Madrid. ¡Congratulations, culers!

Final match statistics: Espanyol 0-2 Barça

1. Shots: 9-12
2. Shots on goal: 1-4
3. Possession: 25 % - 75 %
4. Fouls: 7-10
5. Yellow cards: 2-1
6. Offsides: 3-0
7. Corners: 3-3

Match data sheet: Espanyol 0-2 FC Barcelona

• Espanyol, 0: Joan García; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Urko, Pol Lozano (Pere Milla, min 60); Roca (Carreras, min 68), Edu Expósito, Puado (Cheddira, min. 82); Roberto (Calero, min. 82)
• FC Barcelona, 2: Szczesny; Eric Garcia, Araujo (Cubarsí, min. 52), Christensen (Héctor Fort, min. 77), Gerard Martín (Alejandro Balde, min. 46); Frenkie de Jong, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Olmo (Gavi, min. 77), Raphinha; Lewandowski (Fermín López, min. 65)
• Goals: 0-1, Lamine Yamal (min. 53); 0-2, Fermín López (min. 90+5)
• Referee: César Soto Grado. He cautioned Andreas Christensen, for Barça, in the first half. He sent off Leandro Cabrera for assaulting Lamine Yamal in the second half. He also cautioned Walid Cheddira and Marash Kumbulla for the locals.
• Stadium: Cornellà-El Prat
• Incidents: match corresponding to matchday 36 of LaLiga EA Sports 2024/25.