BARCELONA - Barcelona claimed their 27th LaLiga title and first for four years on Sunday after two first-half goals from Robert Lewandowski spurred them to a comfortable 4-2 victory over city rivals Espanyol.
Barça moved to 85 points from 34 matches and extended their lead at the summit to an unassailable 14 points over second-placed Real Madrid.
There was little time for jubilation, however, as the visitors had to quickly rush off the pitch after full-time as several Espanyol fans invaded the field as Barça started to celebrate their title.
Barcelona players in the tunnel after Espanyol fans rushed the pitch. pic.twitter.com/i4GcM6JwSq
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 14, 2023
When Barça players and staff were celebrating the LaLiga title, Espanyol fans invaded the pitch trying to assault them
— La Liga Lowdown ⚽️ (@LaLigaLowdown) May 14, 2023
They will have to wait until Saturday to lift the LaLiga trophy as they host fourth-placed Real Sociedad in front of their jubilant fans who will pack out their Camp Nou stadium.
It will no doubt be an emotional occasion for captain Sergio Busquets, who last week announced that he will be leaving Barça after 15 years at the end of the season. It was Busquets' ninth LaLiga title and 32nd overall with the club, with his trophy cabinet also including three Champions Leagues, seven Copa del Rey and three FIFA Club World Cups as well as his 2010 World Cup and 2012 European championship success with Spain.
"I'm delighted, I think we had a spectacular campaign and clinched it today with a great win," Busquets told Movistar Plus. "We are a solid team, a well oiled squad with an outstanding defense and that's how champions are built. I'm proud of what we did the entire season, being solid and regular, winning the games we should and not dropping points. It was a remarkable season and I'm so happy to end my history here this way."
Barça were the superior side against lowly Espanyol, who are second from bottom and fighting to avoid relegation, and opened the scoring early with a close-range strike by Lewandowski. Alejandro Balde, who put it on a plate for Lewandowski's opener, scored Barça's second with a tap-in from a Pedri cross in the 20th minute. Lewandowski extended Barca's lead five minutes before the break with another close-range finish from a Raphinha cross. Defender Jules Koundé headed in Barça's fourth in the 53rd minute, before Javi Puado and Joselu scored consolation goals for Espanyol.
Barcelona have won 27 of their 34 games this season, with their title charge built largely on their outstanding defense, which has conceded a measly 13 goals, by far the best defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues. At home, their defensive numbers are even more impressive with only two goals conceded, one from a penalty and the other an own goal.
They are the second highest scorers in the division, having bagged 64 goals, with LaLiga's leading marksman this season Lewandowski netting 21, four more than Real's Karim Benzema.
(Reporting by Fernando Kallas; Editing by Toby Davis)
