Espanyol 2-4 Barcelona: Barça win La Liga – as it happened

  • 5/14/2023
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Here’s the table that confirms Barcelona as champions. And Espanyol in trouble. And here’s the speedy exodus to the dressing rooms. These celebrations did not last long on the pitch. Barcelona players celebrate….and then things get nasty….they are chased down the tunnel as some of Espanyol’s fans make their way to the field…. Full-time: Espanyol 2-4 Barcelona No Barca fans there tonight but the players celebrate before the final whistle. A first title under Xavi, a first since Messi departed, and all amid the crisis that engulfs Barca. The party can begin across most of the city, whereas Espanyol look in deep trouble. Goal! Espanyol 2-4 Barcelona (Joselu, (90+2) That’s a late consolation…. 90 min: There will be two minutes left of the La Liga title race… 88 min: Dembele speeds away, and then cuts the ball back. Lewandowski swings a leg and misses. He’d be some player if he had a left foot… 85 min: Fati is on, and sets up Lewandowski, who then runs into a wall of Espanyol muscle. Then Lewandowski just fails to reach an Alba cross. 84 min: Lewandowski really wants that hat-trick, and he won’t get it this way. The ball is crashed somewhere into downtown Barcelona. 82 min: Long hoof out of defence by Barcelona; it’s got that that stage, even if it shouldn’t really be afraid of anything. 79 min: Good atmosphere here, too. Barcelona are well ahead but need to right themselves to make this last ten minutes without drama. 77 min: Lewandowski goes close…he’s seeking a first Liga hat-trick. 76 min: Joselu flashes one wide, where was this Espanyol before…off go Barca….Dembele is offside now…and then Joselu has another shot. A derby game has broken out at 4-1. Goal! Espanyol 1-4 Barcelona (Puado 73) Long ball bisects the Barca defence and Puado lobs Ter Stegen. That means Ter Stegen must wait for that clean sheet record, only the 12th goal conceded all season. VAR didn’t seem to want to award it but he was miles onside. 72 min: Here’s the goals, via Viaplay. 69 min: It almost feels as if Barca have decided to shut up shop to protect Ter Stegen but he does his best to bail himself out when Puado is allowed space by Jordi Alba. A fine save is made with his feet. 66 min: Ter Stegen is closing in on a record run of clean sheets, having already broken the record of Manchester City legend Claudio Bravo of 23 games last month. 63 min: Barcelona subs: Raphina off, Dembele on, and Jordi Alba has come in, for Araujo. 62 min: Some good pics of Espanyol fans, one with a scarf over her face, another fan on a house-brick mobile looking anguished. 60 min: There could be 30 minutes of olé football to come here. 59 min: Barcelona settle into the passing style that is the club’s trademark. Espanyol sit back in numbers. 57 min: Espanyol appear reluctant to get going again, perhaps fearing stepping out to let their opponents score. 55 min: There’s a long time to go in this game, and the home fans are restless and angry. It’s been too easy, not enough resistance. Goal! Espanyol 0-4 Barcelona (Koundé, 53) De Jong chips the ball through and Kounde angles his header into the goal. That’s his first Barca goal, quite a night to do it. Espanyol’s players have taken to arguing with each other. 50 min: Araujo hooks the ball out to jeers. We are reminded that Lewandowksi is collecting his ninth title in a row. The last time he didn’t get one was with Dortmund under Klopp, having won the previous two there, too. 48 min: Joselu has a dig at goal, Aranjo for company meaning he can’t keep the shot down. 46 min: We are back underway, and there’s an atmosphere of rebellion taking place behind the goals. Two Espanyol subs, including the departure of Arsenal legend Denis Suarez. Half-time: Espanyol 0-3 Barcelona Lewandowski has borne criticism of late, but his goals have fired his club to the brink of the title, even if Alejandro Balde, with a goal and assist has been the outstanding player on the field. 45+1 min: Espanyol attack…Braithwaite has a shot blocked…and that’s the half.

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