Barcelona secured their first league title in three years after a dominant performance against their city rivals Espanyol.
The visitors were in control from the start, with Robert Lewandowski opening the scoring with his 20th goal of the campaign and Alejandro Balde, 19, doubling the advantage.
Lewandowski netted again before Jules Kounde’s header made it 4-0.
Espanyol fought back with goals from Javier Puado and Joselu but they remain in a precarious position near the relegation zone.
Barcelona have 85 points, 14 more than second-placed Real Madrid, with four games left. It is their first league title since club legend Lionel Messi departed in August 2021 and first since Xavi took over as manager in November 2021. Espanyol, on the other hand, are facing the prospect of a second drop from La Liga in four seasons after a dismal run of nine defeats in 11 games.
They are four points from safety with four games remaining. Barcelona’s players celebrated on the pitch after the final whistle but had to leave quickly after some Espanyol fans invaded the pitch.
Barca were behind Real Madrid by three points after losing 3-1 to them on 16 October, and they also had a disappointing exit from the Champions League after losing three of their six group games.
But Xavi, who won eight league titles during a glorious 17-year career playing for Barca’s first team, has delivered in his first full season in charge.
It was a special night for captain Sergio Busquets, who has announced he will leave Barcelona at the end of the season after 18 years at the club.
This is the 34-year-old’s ninth league title with Barca but the future looks bright for the team, with Balde and Kounde scoring their first league goals in Barcelona colours.
Barcelona will leave their Nou Camp home next season while the stadium is renovated.
But fans will get a chance to celebrate the club’s first major trophy since 2020-21 during their last two home games – against Real Sociedad on Saturday and Mallorca on 28 May.
