FC Barcelona have been crowned champions for the 2022/23 LaLiga season after thrashing city rivals Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday night.
LaLiga
Result: Espanyol 2-4 Barcelona
Date: 14 May 2023
Venue: RCDE Stadium
Barca kept the same side that edged Osasuna the last time out, as Raphinha and Gavi flanked league top goal-scorer Lewandowski upfront.
Espanyol, meanwhile, had three former Barcelona players, Martin Braithwaite, Denis Suarez and Sergi Gomez in the line-up.
Blaugrana did not waste time on the ball going forward as Lewandowski gave them the lead within the first 11 minutes after he directed a deflected cross by Alejandro Balde with his knee in the box.
Xavi's charges continued to storm forward and Balde doubled their lead on 20 minutes with a volley at the back post after a cross by Pedri.
Barca were cruising already as Lewandowski put them out of sight five minutes before the interval and completed his brace with a left-footed finish in the box after a square pass by Raphinha.
Espanyol came to life moments later as Braithwaite went through on goal after an error at the back by Blaugrana but he took his time before releasing his shot and his effort was saved by goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen.
The home side came back from the break with positive energy but their hopes of making something out of the game were dashed after Jules Kounde made it 4-0 for Barca with a stunning header at the back post from a diagonal cross by Frenkie de Jong.
Barca were not resting on their laurels just after the hour-mark as they needed a double change for fresh legs as Jordi Alba replaced Ronald Araujo and Ousmane Dembele came on Raphinha.
However, it was Espanyol who looked lively going forward on transitions as Javi Puado went clear on goal with 21 minutes to go but was denied in a one-on-one by Ter Stegen.
Barca's high line gave Puado another one-on-one chance moments later and this time he made it count as he lifted a shot over Ter Stegen and the goal was incorrectly ruled out for offside but the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened and gave Espanyol a consolation goal.
Espanyol enjoyed a good spell of possession in the dying minutes and Joselu got a second goal back in stoppage time with a close-range shot from a rebound off the post.
However, Barcelona were home and dry as they were crowned champions for the 27th time with four games to spare.
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