Football: Barça crowned champion of Spain, four years later

An eternity that ends: four years after its last coronation in 2019, FC Barcelona has finally reconquered the Spanish throne for the 27th time in its history. It was the first major title for coach Xavi, who had previously only won one Spanish Super Cup since returning to the Blaugrana bench in November 2021.

And it is also the Catalan club's first Spanish league title since Lionel Messi's departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

A triumph built with the manner: Barça dislodged Real Madrid from first place in the standings just before the parenthesis of the World Cup in Qatar, then did not let go until the coronation. The "White House", second with fourteen points behind, can no longer catch up with its rival.

"Lewy", the alarm clock

On Sunday, Xavi's men could not count on a poor performance from Real (winner of Getafe 1-0 on Saturday), and therefore had to finish the job themselves.

Author of a double on May 14, 2023 on the lawn of Espanyol, Robert Lewandowski, the Polish centre-forward of Barça, was one of the great craftsmen of the 27th title of champion of Spain of the Catalan © club Lluis GENE / AFP / Archives

Barça folded the game from the start, with a first goal from the right knee by Robert Lewandowski in the 11th minute after a delivery from Alejandro Balde, who was then at the conclusion of a Pedri center at the second post (20th) to score his first goal in the colors of the Blaugrana first team.

The Polish goleador, top scorer in La Liga, even offered himself a double in the 40th, and Jules Koundé also opened his counter to Barça in the 53rd, from the head, to seal the coronation.

Espanyol saved the honour by Puado (73rd) and then by Joselu in extra time (90th+2).

Out of respect for Espanyol, neighbors and historical rivals of the Blaugranas who are fighting for maintenance, the trophy will not be awarded to Barça players until next Saturday, when Real Sociedad receive at Camp Nou (21:00).

It will be the last one that Sergio Busquets will raise: the iconic Blaugrana captain announced on Wednesday that he would leave the club this summer at the end of his contract, without specifying his future destination.

A ray in the storm

This title is the long-awaited consecration of a Barça that had not ceased to disillusion since its last coronation in 2019, conquered with 19 points ahead of Real Madrid (3rd).

In four years, the Catalans have sunk into a whirlwind mixing waltz of coaches (four since 2019), legal scandals, economic crisis and disappointing sporting records, including two consecutive eliminations in the group stage of the Champions League.

The club is still shaken by internal unrest: the scandal of alleged corruption of referees has latent the spring of the Blaugranas, who still have to release more than 200 million euros for next season.

The work at Camp Nou and the temporary transfer to Montjuic next season will deprive Barca of a significant shortfall, and LaLiga could penalize the club if it does not fit into the nails of financial fair play.

And with all this, the hope of bringing back the legend Lionel Messi, caressed in recent weeks after the setbacks of the Argentine superstar with PSG, now seems to be receding.

The seal of Xavi

But despite all this torment, Xavi and Barça weathered the storms staying focused on the game.

FC Barcelona coach Xavi on May 14, 2023 on the pitch of Espanyol: by winning 4-2, his players won Barça's © 27th Spanish league title Lluis GENE / AFP/Archives

Without Messi, the Blaugranas still found a world-class goleador by attracting "Lewy". The Pole started his adventure in Catalonia like a cannonball, scoring eleven goals in the first ten rounds, before taking his foot off the gas in the second half of the season... until coming out of his silence Sunday night with a decisive double.

But it is mainly thanks to its defense that Barça has flown over this Liga: the Catalans have conceded only thirteen goals in 34 days, and are on the basis of the historical record of Chelsea of Jose Mourinho, who had conceded only fifteen goals in 38 matches in 2004-05.

If it is also that of president Joan Laporta, re-elected in 2021 and who participated in cleaning up the finances and atmosphere of the club, this coronation bears above all the seal of Xavi. It was he, the former glory of Camp Nou, who was the architect of this "new project" and this long-term success, for his first full season at the head of the Blaugrana bench.

Is it finally the return of the great Barça? It's too early to tell. Europe is the next goal for Xavi and his players. But "poc a poc", as the Catalan technician likes to say, Barça is resurrecting its past splendour.

© 2023 AFP