Barcelona Crowned La Liga Champions as Lamine Yamal Shines Again in Derby Victory

Barcelona sealed their 28th La Liga title in memorable fashion on Thursday night, as teenage sensation Lamine Yamal delivered yet another moment of magic in a 2-0 derby win at Espanyol. The 17-year-old curled home a stunning opener early in the second half, confirming Barça’s place at the summit of Spanish football with two games to spare.

Yamal Delivers in a Title-Decider

In a high-stakes Catalan derby, it was the teenage prodigy who provided the decisive moment in the 53rd minute. Latching onto a pass from Dani Olmo, Yamal produced a trademark left-footed finish into the top corner — his 17th goal in a season that’s firmly established him among world football’s brightest young stars. Deep into stoppage time, the teenager turned provider, setting up Fermin Lopez for Barcelona’s second to cap a historic evening.

The match had an unsettling moment in the first half when play was paused after a car drove into a group of fans outside the stadium, injuring 13 people. Fortunately, none were seriously hurt, and the game resumed soon after.

Clean Sweep for Hansi Flick in Debut Season

The title win completes a domestic treble for Barcelona under Hansi Flick in his first year as head coach, having already lifted the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. Remarkably, Flick’s side also dominated fierce rivals Real Madrid, claiming victory in all four Clasico clashes this season, including both domestic cup finals.

Speaking after the match, Flick praised his squad’s mental strength and resilience. “It’s always important to be mentally strong — we’ve worked on that all year. Winning the Super Cup in January gave us confidence. To see players reach new levels has been fantastic,” he told Movistar Plus.

Historic Title Clinched on Familiar Ground

In a curious twist, Barcelona’s latest league title is the third time in the 21st century they’ve clinched the championship at Espanyol’s ground, more than at their own Nou Camp. A similar feat occurred just two years ago in 2023 and again in 2013 when Real Madrid’s draw at the RCDE Stadium handed Barça the title.

There was minor drama at full-time, with Espanyol staff switching on the sprinklers to curtail Barcelona’s on-pitch celebrations, reminiscent of scenes in 2023 when Espanyol fans invaded the pitch after the title-deciding result.

A Record-Breaking Season for Barcelona

Barça’s title triumph crowns a season of blistering attacking football, with the team scoring a staggering 169 goals across all competitions and reaching the Champions League semi-finals before a narrow elimination against Inter Milan.

Yamal has been at the heart of it all. Now with 24 goals in 104 senior club appearances and four in 19 for Spain, the teenager has already delivered on some of the biggest stages — including a Euro 2024 semi-final, a Champions League semi-final, and three Clasico matches.

His 13 league assists this season are also a league-best mark. As teammate Pedri put it: “Lamine’s goal is one he practises a lot. He’s a fantastic talent — we just have to protect him and let him enjoy his football.”

What’s Next for the Champions

Barcelona will celebrate their La Liga title with an open-top bus parade through the city on Friday, before lifting the trophy in front of their fans during Sunday’s home clash with Villarreal.

At just 17, Yamal’s meteoric rise continues to draw comparisons with Lionel Messi — though even Barça’s greatest ever player hadn’t scored a senior goal at Yamal’s age. For now, though, the prodigy and his teammates will savor a title-winning campaign that promises to mark the start of another golden era in Catalonia.

Elevate your betting experience with SKY247 Nigeria. Join now and discover a thrilling world of sports, live events, and exclusive bonuses. Bet with confidence on your favorite teams and games.