Barcelona crowned La Liga champions after derby win

2 years ago 33

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Last updated on 5 minutes ago.From the section European Football

Alejandro Balde celebrates scoring for Barcelona against Espanyol in La Liga

Barcelona sealed their first La Liga title since 2018-19 with four games to spare after a stylish win at the home of city rivals Espanyol.

Barca were 3-0 up by half-time, Robert Lewandowski scoring his 20th league goal of the season before Alejandro Balde, 19, doubled the lead.

Lewandowski added the third before Jules Kounde's header made it 4-0.

Espanyol did reduce the deficit through Javier Puado and Joselu but remain in trouble near the bottom of the table.

Barcelona have 85 points, 14 more than nearest rivals Real Madrid, with 12 points left to play for.

It is their first La Liga title since club legend Lionel Messi left in August 2021 and first since Xavi was appointed manager in November 2021.

Meanwhile, Espanyol are in danger of a second relegation in four seasons from La Liga after a ninth league defeat in 11 games.

They are four points from safety with four matches left.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Espanyol

Formation 5-3-2

13Pacheco
2Gil
23Montes
24Gómez SolàSubstituted forPuadoat 45'minutes
4Cabrera
14OlivánSubstituted forKoleoshoat 84'minutes
21MelamedSubstituted forExpósito Jaénat 87'minutes
10DarderBooked at 39mins
6D SuárezSubstituted forCaleroat 45'minutes
17BraithwaiteSubstituted forPedrosaat 55'minutes
9Joselu

Substitutes

3Pedrosa
5Calero
7Puado
8Bare
12de Souza Costa
16Lazo
18Pierre-Gabriel
20Expósito Jaén
22Vidal
25Fernández Llorente
30Koleosho
34Fortuño Viñas

Barcelona

Formation 4-3-3

1ter Stegen
23KoundéBooked at 2mins
4AraújoSubstituted forAlbaat 63'minutesBooked at 82mins
15ChristensenSubstituted forAlonsoat 74'minutes
28Balde
8PedriSubstituted forKessiéat 89'minutes
5Busquets
21F de Jong
22RaphinhaSubstituted forDembéléat 62'minutes
9Lewandowski
30GaviBooked at 39minsSubstituted forAnsu Fatiat 74'minutes

Substitutes

7Dembélé
10Ansu Fati
11F Torres
13Peña Sotorres
17Alonso
18Alba
19Kessié
20Roberto
24García
32Torre
36Tenas

Referee:Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea

Attendance:27,360

Live Text

Match ends, Espanyol 2, Barcelona 4.
Second Half ends, Espanyol 2, Barcelona 4.
Goal! Espanyol 2, Barcelona 4. Joselu (Espanyol) left footed shot from very close range to the high centre of the goal following a corner.
Fernando Calero (Espanyol) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Adrià Pedrosa with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Espanyol. Conceded by Marcos Alonso.
Attempt blocked. Joselu (Espanyol) left footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Edu Expósito with a cross.
Substitution, Barcelona. Franck Kessié replaces Pedri.
Substitution, Espanyol. Edu Expósito replaces Nicolás Melamed.
Attempt missed. Óscar Gil (Espanyol) left footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Adrià Pedrosa with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Sergi Darder (Espanyol) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Nicolás Melamed.
Substitution, Espanyol. Luka Koleosho replaces Brian Oliván.
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.
Jordi Alba (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Jordi Alba (Barcelona).
Nicolás Melamed (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Javier Puado (Espanyol) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Sergi Darder.
Attempt missed. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Frenkie de Jong with a through ball.
Attempt saved. Joselu (Espanyol) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Nicolás Melamed.
Offside, Barcelona. Sergio Busquets tries a through ball, but Ousmane Dembélé is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Joselu (Espanyol) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adrià Pedrosa with a through ball.