- Overrun 10-man Espanyol 0-2
- Fine debut season for Hansi Flick with domestic double
- Lamine Yamal scores stunner in win over local rivals
- Victory parade holds Friday
- Celebration at the Estadi Olímpic Sunday
For FC Barcelona, the moment to celebrate the 2024/25 season is finally here, courtesy of their 0-2 spanking of city rivals, RCD Espanyol 0-2 on Thursday night.
After pocketing the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, the Hansi Flick’s men have now claimed their 28th La Liga title in Spanish football history.
The encounter saw teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal netting a sublime opening goal and later assisted the second in stoppage time, to ensure the Catalan giants sealed the championship in emphatic style, and on the home ground of their fiercest local foes.
The crucial breakthrough arrived in the 53rd minute, thanks to an exquisite passage of play. Dani Olmo, showcasing his vision and timing, threaded a precise pass through the Espanyol backline. The ball met Yamal in stride, who didn’t hesitate before unleashing a sublime curling effort with his left foot. The shot soared into the top corner, far beyond the goalkeeper’s reach.
A goal worthy of deciding any title race, it was another moment of class and quality delivered by Yamal, who could even be the best player in the world already.
Interestingly, the day the league title race began about a year ago, Barca’s Keeper, Wojciech Szczesny was sitting on the beach in Marbella, lighting up a cigarette, enjoying his retirement; but the day it ended nine months on, he was there on the pitch at the RCDE stadium 1,000km north, celebrating alongside the old and new friends with whom he had just become a champion again.
At 35, the Polish goalkeeper had been convinced to come out of retirement for one last job, and what a job it was, a season he hadn’t even expected to play ending with a league and cup double.
He was joined by a stellar cast, a whole new generation that includes Yarmal, a kid 17 years and three months his junior, a teenager at the other end of a career that might yet be one of the best there has ever been.
On the pitch, Szczesny made two vital first-half saves when Barcelona were exposed in the first half against their city rivals Espanyol on the night when they knew a win would secure the title and anything less would leave them having to fight on, maybe even find themselves in a position where it wouldn’t happen at all.
It is still like a fairy tale for many die-hard Barcelona’s fans. When Hansi Flick took over the reins at Camp Nou from Xavi last summer, few of them could have predicted such a rapid turnaround.
However, in just one season, he has revitalised Barcelona, blending youth and experience to create a formidable side that plays with flair and intensity.
Their La Liga success adds to an already successful campaign in which the team also lifted the Copa del Rey, defeating arch-rivals Real Madrid in a fiery and emotional final just a few weeks ago.
Victory Parade On Friday
On Friday, 16th May, from 6 pm CEST, the victory parade for the champions will start and continue through the streets of Barcelona to celebrate the team’s success with the fans.
The starting point will be access gate 13 at Spotify Camp Nou and the route will end at the Arc de Triomf monument at around 9.30pm CEST.
The open top buses will pass through the streets of Numància, Berlín, París, Balmes and Pelai. Then Plaça Catalunya and Plaça Urquinaona, before moving on to Carrer Trafalgar and Passeig de Sant Joan, before finally arriving at Arc de Triomf.
Celebrations End At Montjuïc Sunday
The party will continue until Sunday when FC Barcelona face Villarreal in their final home game of the season. Music, fireworks and surprises are in store at the Estadi Lluís Companys with the highlight being the awarding of the league trophy to the team.
There is still time to see the events for yourself VIP tickets available for a premium experience in the final fixture of the 2024/25 campaign at Montjuïc – With Agency reports
