Last Updated: May 15, 2023, 04:10 IST
Barcelona have endured a troubled interval on and off the pitch in recent times however their triumph indicators important enchancment, with coach Xavi Hernandez. (Image: Barcelona/Twitter)
Barcelona clinched their twenty seventh Spanish championship on the house of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full time
Barcelona received La Liga for the primary time since 2019 by thrashing Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday, wrestling the title again from rivals Real Madrid.
The Catalan giants clinched their twenty seventh Spanish championship on the house of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full time as celebrating Barcelona gamers have been chased from the sphere by pitch invaders.
Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona, together with targets for Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde.
Barcelona have endured a troubled interval on and off the pitch in recent times however their triumph indicators important enchancment, with coach Xavi Hernandez profitable his first main trophy since taking up in November 2021.
President Joan Laporta’s rebuild was broadly criticised final summer season in gentle of the membership’s perilous monetary state of affairs.
Early Champions League elimination was a blow, however the membership received the Spanish Super Cup in January, earlier than sealing La Liga glory with 4 video games to spare.
Xavi didn’t spring any surprises together with his line-up and Barcelona’s first crew took to the pitch with one objective firmly in thoughts, the tip lastly in sight.
They conjured an electrical show, considered one of their most interesting this season, to seal their triumph and go away their metropolis rivals nineteenth, 4 factors from security with 4 matches remaining.
Barcelona broke the impasse after 11 minutes with a well-worked objective, completed off by Lewandowski for his twentieth of the season in La Liga.
Ronald Araujo performed an inch good lengthy cross for left-back Balde, who blazed previous Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed for Lewandowski to bundle house from shut vary.
Gil was overwhelmed by Balde once more for the second objective, this time scored by the younger left-back after Pedri darted to the byline and scooped an inviting cross to the again publish.
It was Balde’s first objective for Barcelona, capping an excellent breakthrough season for the teenager, who has phased veteran defender Jordi Alba out of the aspect.
Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco tipped away a Lewandowski effort as Barcelona poured ahead, with the hosts battling to not be blown away.
– Lewandowski double –
It labored for some time, however guests grabbed the third earlier than half-time when Raphinha put the ball on a plate for Lewandowski to roll house.
The Polish striker’s arrival from Bayern Munich was a key a part of final summer season’s rebuild and regardless of a dip within the second half of the season, has paid the Catalans again in targets.
Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a chic save to disclaim former team-mate Martin Braithwaite from shut vary in stoppage time on the finish of the primary interval.
Kounde headed house the fourth early within the second half from Frenkie de Jong’s good chipped cross as Espanyol’s defence crumbled but once more.
Some Espanyol followers headed for the exits early whereas others demanded the board resign, together with aiming one unsavoury chant on the membership’s Chinese house owners.
Ter Stegen denied Javi Puado when by means of on objective, decided to earn a La Liga record-equalling twenty sixth clear sheet of the season within the high flight.
However moments later the Espanyol ahead discovered himself by means of on objective as soon as extra and this time scored with a chic lob — small comfort within the face of Espanyol’s defeat and Barcelona’s glory.
Joselu pulled one other objective again in stoppage time, but it surely was too little, too late.
Xavi’s aspect celebrated at full-time, to the anger of Espanyol followers, who invaded the pitch, with Barcelona gamers sprinting down the tunnel to flee.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated news company feed)
RohitRohit is a News18.com journalist with a ardour for world affairs and a love for soccer. Follow him on Twitter at @heis_rohit…Read More
Source: www.news18.com
