Barcelona have secured their 28th LaLiga title in emphatic fashion, defeating Catalan rivals Espanyol 2-0 at the RCD Stadium with two games still to play.
A charged atmosphere greeted both teams at kick-off, but the energy quickly turned to jeers from the home fans as Barcelona asserted early control. Still, the Blaugrana’s high defensive line nearly cost them when Urko González had a golden chance just four minutes in. Barça responded with intent, and Robert Lewandowski came close with a powerful effort in the 12th minute. At the other end, Espanyol’s Javi Puado squandered a one-on-one opportunity he should’ve converted.
Despite dominating possession—over 80% in the first 15 minutes—Barcelona’s trademark fluid passing lacked sharpness, largely due to Espanyol’s aggressive pressing. Hansi Flick’s men faced further danger midway through the half, but goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny raced off his line to snuff out another Espanyol counter.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha struggled to find rhythm in the first half, and chances were limited to a long-range shot from Pedri and a half-chance for Lewandowski. The game remained goalless at the break.
The introduction of Alejandro Balde after half-time injected much-needed width and urgency into Barcelona’s attack—and it didn’t take long for it to pay off. Just seven minutes into the second half, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal curled a stunning strike into the top corner, breaking the deadlock and stamping his mark on the match.
From that moment, Yamal grew in confidence, driving Barça forward as they looked to kill the game off. Barcelona’s dominance was clear, outshooting Espanyol 10 to 4, although the hosts did threaten occasionally, forcing a crucial close-range save from Szczęsny to deny Roberto Fernández.
Espanyol’s hopes were dashed when Leandro Cabrera was sent off for punching Yamal—a moment that all but sealed their fate. Deep into stoppage time, Fermín López added a second after a slick team move, sealing the victory and sparking celebrations among the visitors.
With this win, Barcelona not only claim the LaLiga crown but also complete a domestic treble. They extend their unbeaten run in the league to 16 matches (14 wins, 2 draws)—their best stretch since going 19 games unbeaten between December 2020 and April 2021.
As Barcelona celebrate a season of dominance, Espanyol remain dangerously close to relegation. With two fixtures left, they’ll need at least one more point to ensure top-flight survival.
