Barcelona have been crowned 2024 LaLiga champions after a 2-0 victory over city rivals Espanyol on Thursday, thanks to goals from teenage star Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez.
The win puts Barcelona seven points ahead of Real Madrid with just two games left, making it impossible for their rivals to catch them. This marks Barca’s 28th league title and completes a domestic treble under new coach Hansi Flick, who has guided the young team to an impressive season, only falling short in the Champions League.
In a tense derby at Espanyol’s stadium in Cornella, 17-year-old Yamal opened the scoring in the 53rd minute with a brilliant curling shot from outside the box. The strike reminded fans of his wonder goal for Spain against France at the Euro 2024 semifinals.
Barca sealed the win in added time when Lopez scored in the 95th minute, ending any hope of a comeback from their neighbours. Despite heavy pressure from Espanyol, especially after going down to 10 men following a red card to Leandro Cabrera for elbowing Yamal, Barca held firm.
The match was played under tight security after a car reportedly drove into a crowd of Espanyol fans outside the stadium before kickoff. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, and police said it appeared to be an accident.
Barca fans celebrated with caution. Last year, celebrations on the same ground turned chaotic when angry Espanyol fans chased players off the pitch. This time, stadium officials turned on the sprinklers, and Barcelona players quickly moved into the tunnel.
Barcelona’s title win follows a dramatic season that included a memorable 4-3 El Clasico win over Real Madrid last weekend, seen as the turning point in the title race.
With this latest triumph, the Catalan giants continue their legacy as one of Europe’s top clubs, led by a rising star in Yamal who has proven to be one of the season’s brightest talents.
