FC Barcelona has been crowned Spanish football champion for the 27th time. The Catalans clinched their first LaLiga title since 2019 by beating Espanyol 4-2 (3-0) in the Barcelona derby at Espanyol on Sunday night.
Star striker Robert Lewandowski (11th/40th) with his goals of the season number 20 and 21, Alejandro Balde (20th) and Jules Kounde (53rd) scored the goals for the new champions with the German national goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Javier Puado (73') and Joselu (90'+2) scored for Espanyol.
Four matchdays before the end of the season, Barca's lead is 14 points over arch-rivals and record champions Real Madrid, who won 1-0 (0-0) against Getafe FC on Saturday. When the last title was won four years ago, seven-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi was the leader in Barca's ranks.
The championship success is also the first major triumph for Barca icon Xavi (43), who has been working as head coach at the Catalans since November 2021. In the cup semi-finals, he had failed with Barca at the eventual winner Real.