Barcelona won their 29th La Liga title with a 2-0 victory over arch-rivals Real Madrid in El Clasico, extending their 14-point lead over the leaders with three games remaining.
Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres scored first-half goals on Sunday to help Hansi Flick’s side claim back-to-back titles, but Madrid ended the season without a trophy.
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This is only the second time that La Liga has been decided directly by the result of a Clasico, with Real Madrid, who have won a record 36 times, clinching their first title in 1932 with a draw with Barça.
Flick’s side were disappointed to lose to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals in April, but were still determined to celebrate in style.
“This title is even more special because we won it at home against Madrid. Now we have to enjoy it together with the fans,” Barça midfielder Frenkie de Jong told Movistar.
“We are the best team in Spain. Of course we want to win the Champions League. That is the goal.”
“We’ll have another chance next year.”
Madrid entered the game in turmoil as midfielder Fede Valverde was ruled out with a head injury after a brawl with starting teammate Aurelien Choameny on the training ground.
Barça coach Flick also received the bad news that his father had passed away before the match, but he still stood on the touchline and watched his team win.
The Germans selected the dynamic Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, on the right wing in place of injured teenage star Lamine Yamal.
Desperate to avoid defeat, the Catalans went into the game with their eyes firmly on the prize and took a two-goal lead within 18 minutes.
Rashford took the lead with a wonderful free-kick, driving the ball from 20 yards out, right of centre, into the top left corner.
Torres doubled the hosts’ advantage at a jubilant Camp Nou, where a crowd of 62,000 enjoyed the first Clasico since the stadium reopened.
Dani Olmo’s deft backheel allowed Torres to dart into the box and past Thibaut Courtois.
Gonzalo García, playing in place of injured Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe, ran in behind Barça’s high defensive line and narrowly missed the target.
Madrid’s manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who is unlikely to be in charge next season, urged him on the touchline and struggled to stop the bleeding.
Rashford could have added a third before the break, but his shot went wide and Fermin Lopez finished unmarked and in a good position.
Torres should have scored early in the second half, but Courtois saved the shot from the running Spain international.
Jude Bellingham put the ball into Barcelona’s goal, but the goal was ruled out for offside and João Garcia thwarted Vinicius Junior as Madrid threatened.
Barça fans added to the party atmosphere by hitting inflatable beach balls around and taunting the Brazilian about his unfulfilled Ballon d’Or ambitions.
Courtois saved from substitute Rafinha and Robert Lewandowski, who had returned from injury, and Madrid survived the rest of the match without suffering any further damage.
Flick’s team remains on track to equal the record for 100 league points, and if they defeat Real Betis with one game remaining, they can win all their home games.
“I will never forget this day,” the Barcelona manager told La Liga TV after the match.
“The start was a tough day for me because my dad passed away, but my team is great. It’s like a family,” Flick said.
“Today they gave their all. I’m proud of the fans. It’s great to win La Liga in this stadium and in El Clasico against Real Madrid.”
“It wasn’t easy. Everyone expected us to win, but Real are a great team. We played really well and scored at the right time.”
Meanwhile, Madrid have finished the season without winning a major trophy for the second year in a row, and their plans for a summer makeover are on the back burner, with the possibility of former manager Jose Mourinho returning to the team being talked about.
Arbeloa congratulated Barcelona in his post-match comments to the media, stating that the team will “learn from what happened this season and strive even harder.”
“Knowing that the season is over today, I feel a greater responsibility now. The one thing we can’t do is give up. Absolutely not,” he said.
“We have three games left and we have to go for the win. Here we are defending something much bigger than all of us, something much bigger than individual pride. That is the Real Madrid emblem and millions of fans.”
