Barcelona Crowned LaLiga Champion Under Flick’s Command
Barcelona secured the LaLiga title on Thursday with a 2-0 victory against Espanyol, their city rival, culminating a stellar season in Hansi Flick’s first campaign in charge of the team.
Real Madrid, direct rival, had reduced the distance to four points after defeating Mallorca 2-1 on Wednesday. However, Flick’s team’s victory left them with a seven-point lead and two games to play, securing the championship.
After a scoreless first half, Lamine Yamal opened the scoring shortly after the break with a spectacular goal, cutting in from the right wing and unleashing a left-footed shot that curled into the top corner, giving Barcelona the lead.
Subsequently, Leandro Cabrera was sent off for assaulting Yamal, leaving Espanyol with ten players for the rest of the match. Barcelona added a second goal to seal the victory.
Flick, who replaced Xavi Hernández last summer, had already guided Barça to victory in the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, defeating Madrid in both finals.
The league title completes a domestic treble in what has been a memorable debut season in Spain for the German coach.
However, there was disappointment in the Champions League, where Barça was eliminated in the semi-finals against Inter Milan, although it was their best performance in the competition since 2019.
It’s the second time in three years that Barça has won LaLiga and the twenty-eighth in the club’s history, surpassed only by Real Madrid’s 36 titles.
Flick, former Bayern Munich coach, was appointed last season with the task of turning a relatively young team into one capable of competing for titles.
Lamine Yamal has been a protagonist in Barcelona’s victorious campaign.
He started off on the right foot, with Barça winning 11 of their first 12 league matches, including a 4-0 victory against Real Madrid in October.
After building a six-point lead at the top of the table, Barça’s performance declined in November and December, losing four times in seven matches.
That bad run caused them to fall behind Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid in the table, with Carlo Ancelotti’s team reaching seven points ahead in January.
Flick’s team reacted and remained undefeated in the league in 2025, not only catching up with Madrid, but also surpassing them at the top of the standings.
The 4-3 victory against Madrid last Sunday, their fourth victory against Madrid this season, gave them a seven-point lead with only three games to play.
The campaign has been characterized by Flick’s decision to play with a high line, press relentlessly, and attack regardless of the score.
This has resulted in notable matches, with Barça scoring four or more goals in 13 of their LaLiga matches to date, including twice against Real Madrid and also away against Atlético.
Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski have shone in attack, while keeping Pedri fit in midfield has also helped the team to consistently excel.
