Barcelona reclaimed the La Liga crown from arch-rivals Real Madrid with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over crosstown foes Espanyol, sealing their 28th Spanish league title in style. The star of the night was 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, whose stunning strike in the 53rd minute lit up the Catalan derby and propelled Barcelona to glory with two rounds to spare.
In a tense match at Espanyol’s Stage Front Stadium on Thursday, Yamal showcased why he’s hailed as football’s next global superstar. The teenage prodigy danced past two defenders on the edge of the box before unleashing a trademark left-footed curler that nestled into the bottom corner, leaving the home crowd silenced and Barcelona fans in raptures. Fermin Lopez added a second in stoppage time to secure the win, but it was Yamal’s moment of magic that defined the night.
“Lamine’s goal is something he works on constantly. He even scored twice like that in the warmup today,” teammate Pedri told Movistar Plus post-match. “He’s fantastic, and we need to nurture him and let him enjoy his football.”
The first half had been a cagey affair, with Espanyol creating the better chances and giving Real Madrid faint hope of prolonging their title defense. However, Yamal’s brilliance shifted the momentum, and the hosts’ task became insurmountable when Leandro Cabrera was sent off for swinging an arm into the chest of Barcelona’s young star, reducing Espanyol to 10 men.
Yamal’s goal was his eighth in La Liga this season, complemented by an impressive 12 assists, underlining his pivotal role in Barcelona’s triumphant campaign. The victory capped a remarkable debut season for coach Hansi Flick, who has led the Blaugrana to a domestic double—having already secured the Copa del Rey—and a Champions League semifinal appearance.
Barcelona’s title charge was all but confirmed last Sunday with a thrilling 4-3 Clasico win over Real Madrid, their fourth victory over their fiercest rivals across all competitions this season. Madrid’s midweek win over Mallorca delayed the inevitable, but Barcelona needed just two points from their final three games to seal the championship, a feat they accomplished emphatically on Espanyol’s turf.
For Yamal, the night was a coronation of his meteoric rise. His flair, vision, and composure have drawn comparisons to Barcelona’s greatest icons, and his performance in the derby was a fitting climax to a season that has cemented his status as a generational talent.
As the final whistle blew, Barcelona’s players and fans celebrated wildly, knowing they had not only won the league but done so by outshining their rivals on and off the pitch. For Flick and his young squad, this is just the beginning of what promises to be a golden era at Camp Nou.