Barcelona Clinch 28th La Liga Title , Derby Triumph in Espanyol
Kathmandu – FC Barcelona have officially secured their 28th La Liga title in style, wrapping up the championship with two matches still left to play, following a commanding 2-0 victory over city rivals Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Thursday night. The decisive win lifts Barça to 85 points from 36 matches — a lead of seven over second-placed Real Madrid — making it mathematically impossible for Los Blancos to catch them in the remaining fixtures. Teenage sensation Lamine Yamal opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, finishing a precise pass from Dani Olmo to give the visitors a deserved lead in a tightly contested Catalan derby. The night worsened for Espanyol in the 80th minute when defender Leandro Cabrera was shown a straight red card, leaving the hosts a man down in the final stretch of the match. Barcelona capitalized on the numerical advantage, and Firmin López doubled the lead in stoppage time, coolly slotting home a pinpoint assist from Yamal to put the result beyond doubt. While the result crowned Barcelona champions, it deepened Espanyol's woes, leaving them 16th on the table with 39 points from 36 games—still teetering close to the relegation zone. This La Liga title marks the third domestic trophy of a dominant season for the Blaugrana, which has already clinched the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey. It's a statement campaign under manager Hansi Flick, whose vision and blend of youth and experience have brought silverware back to Camp Nou. The night belonged to Barcelona — a triumphant return to league dominance, driven by a new generation rising to the occasion.
