‘It feels like heaven’: How Xavi’s defensive revolution brought La Liga title back to FC Barcelona
Barcelona’s ascent back to the top of Spanish football has been faster than anyone – even the most optimistic of ‘Culés’ – could have imagined.
With a 4-2 away victory at city rival Espanyol on Sunday, Barcelona secured the team’s first La Liga title in four years after a turbulent period for the club both on and off the pitch.
Celebrations at the RCDE Stadium were cut short, however, as some Espanyol fans rushed onto the pitch to confront the Barcelona players as they were enjoying the festivities.
But the chaotic end to the night will do nothing to dampen Barcelona’s joy and such has been the Blaugrana’s dominance this season,
Xavi’s side clinched the trophy with four games still remaining and his iteration will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest defensive teams in La Liga history.
The record for the fewest number of goals conceded by a team in a single 38-game season is 18, held jointly by Deportivo La Coruña (1993-94) and Atlético Madrid (2015-16).
With only 13 goals conceded so far this season, Xavi’s Barcelona is set to obliterate that record.
After the pain of Lionel Messi’s departure, financial turmoil and now the looming ‘Caso Negreira’ scandal, this title will no doubt taste all the sweeter.
“Not only for me, but for the club and for all Barcelona fans it’s very important to win La Liga,” Barça striker Robert Lewandowski told CNN Sport ahead of the match against Espanyol.
“We know that we’re going to do it and then we can, I hope, celebrate with the fans because it will be something amazing, something huge. It’s been a few years since Barcelona has won this title, so we’ve done well.