Barcelona clinched their 28th La Liga title in dramatic fashion with a 2-0 derby victory over Espanyol, thanks to a spectacular strike from 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal. The young forward curled an exquisite shot into the top corner in the 53rd minute, igniting celebrations across Catalonia. The goal, his 17th of the season, capped a remarkable campaign in which Yamal has firmly established himself as one of football’s brightest young stars.
Fermín López added a second goal deep into injury time, tapping in from Yamal’s unselfish assist to seal the win. Despite a spirited performance by Espanyol and chances from Urko Gonzalez and Javi Puado, Barcelona held firm. The match wasn’t without tension, with Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera seeing red late in the second half after striking Yamal during a challenge. The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes – and a minor melee – as Barça players celebrated on the pitch.
A Clean Sweep for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona in His Debut Season
The La Liga triumph completes a domestic treble for Barcelona under new head coach Hansi Flick. Having already secured the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup, Flick’s side swept all available silverware in Spain. Remarkably, the team won all four El Clásico encounters against archrivals Real Madrid this season, including both domestic cup finals.
Flick credited the squad’s mental resilience and tactical evolution throughout the campaign. “At Barcelona, you must win titles,” he told Movistar Plus. “Three trophies is great, but even more rewarding is the way the players have developed. Winning the Super Cup in January gave us belief, and it’s been thrilling to see everyone reach top form.” Flick also took the team to the Champions League semi-finals, where they narrowly lost to Inter Milan, capping a hugely successful first year at the helm.
Off-Pitch Incident Mars Early Stages of the Match
The match at the RCDE Stadium was briefly paused during the first half due to a serious incident outside the ground. A car drove into a group of fans, injuring 13 individuals, four of whom were taken to hospital. Fortunately, no one was reported to be in critical condition, and play resumed shortly afterward.
Despite the disturbing news, the players quickly regained focus. Barcelona, needing all three points to secure the title after Real Madrid’s late win over Mallorca the day before, pushed forward with intent. Espanyol’s early resistance faded as Barcelona found their rhythm in the second half.
Teenage Marvel Yamal Continues Record-Breaking Rise
Lamine Yamal’s performance against Espanyol adds another layer to an already historic season. The teenage forward now boasts 24 goals in 104 appearances for Barcelona and four goals in 19 caps for Spain – all before turning 18. He has delivered in the biggest moments: scoring in El Clásico, in the Champions League semi-finals, and in Spain’s Euro 2024 run.
Yamal’s 13 assists in La Liga this season make him the league’s leading provider, and he is fast drawing comparisons to Barcelona’s legendary No. 10, Lionel Messi. “Lamine’s goal is something he practices a lot,” teammate Pedri said. “He scored twice like that in the warm-up today. He’s incredible – we need to protect him and let him enjoy football.”
Historic Ground, Familiar Celebration
Curiously, Barcelona’s recent title-clinching moments have often occurred away from the Nou Camp – particularly at Espanyol’s home. This is the third time in the 21st century that Barça have sealed the title at the RCDE Stadium, including a similar scenario in 2023. Only two of their last league titles have been confirmed at home.
Post-match celebrations were not entirely smooth. Espanyol ground staff turned on the pitch sprinklers in an attempt to cut short Barcelona’s celebrations, echoing chaotic scenes from two years prior when fans stormed the pitch after the derby. Nevertheless, Barça players continued their revelry and will officially receive the La Liga trophy at the Nou Camp on Sunday against Villarreal.
An open-top bus parade is planned in Barcelona for Friday, giving fans a chance to celebrate a historic treble and the meteoric rise of a young star who could define a new era for the club.
