By KBC Associate 
Lamine Yamal’s spectacular 53rd-minute strike helped a rejuvenated Barcelona secure the La Liga title with two games to spare ahead of Real Madrid by winning at Espanyol.
Spain prodigy Yamal took his tally to 41 direct goal involvements for the season by cutting inside from the right and curling a sensational finish into the far corner of the net as part of a vastly improved performance by the visitors after the restart.
Defender Leandro Cabrera was sent off for Espanyol in the 80th minute after being adjudged to have swung an arm at Yamal following a Video Assistant Referee review and pitchside monitor check by referee Cesar Soto Grado, and Fermin Lopez struck a second in the 95th minute as Barcelona’s celebrations began.
What a hit by Lamine Yamal! 🤯🤯
The 17-year-old star gives Barcelona the lead with a breathtaking strike into the top corner 🌟
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 @sbk | 18+ | 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦 pic.twitter.com/PjyZcuhYHY
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 15, 2025
Espanyol vs Barcelona
Barcelona were uncharacteristically quiet before the break, surviving two major scares on a night when only victory would have sealed the La Liga title at the RCDE Stadium.
Espanyol showed their swift counter-attacking abilities four minutes in when Roberto Fernandez threaded Urko Gonzalez through on goal for the recipient to roll a finish narrowly wide.
Visiting goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny then made an excellent save at full stretch to turn Javi Puado’s strike behind after the forward broke clear through the middle.
Yamal goal vs Espanyol
Barcelona have scored 96 league goals this season and enjoyed the vast majority of possession but could only produce a solitary attempt on target during the first half, while Espanyol, who are not mathematically clear of relegation, found space to attack inside opposition territory with ease at times, repeatedly threatening while occasionally not making the most of inviting opportunities.
In the absence of suspended centre-back Inigo Martinez, Barca fielded an unfamiliar back four of Eric Garcia, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Gerard Martin as part of a vulnerable-looking defensive display.
The goal that secured the title! 🔵🔴
Fermín López with a brilliant finish after a great bit of play by Lamine Yamal 👏
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 @sbk | 18+ | 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦 pic.twitter.com/w79YCF3lLB
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 15, 2025
Barca looked transformed after Martin was replaced by Alejandro Balde at half-time, although manager Hansi Flick was forced to make a less voluntary substitution six minutes after the restart when Araujo appeared to sustain a knock, Pau Cubarsi coming in.
Any concerns Flick might have had over his defence were forgotten soon afterwards when Yamal, who will not be 18 until July, made light of a tight position by surging to his left and scoring a goal worthy of deciding a title.
Substitute Lopez then fired in a deflected effort from just inside the box after being teed up by Yamal, who has 17 goals and 24 assists in all competitions in 2024/25.
The full-time scenes 🎉
Barcelona’s party on the pitch is cut short due to the sprinklers being turned on, but their celebrations will continue in the dressing room and beyond 🔵🔴
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 @sbk | 18+ | 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦 pic.twitter.com/Tz3vGcnRYQ
— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 15, 2025
Barcelona succeed Real Madrid as champions
There were spiky scenes between the teams after full-time, but Barca can celebrate at home when they face fifth-placed Villarreal on Sunday (18:00 BST).
Madrid are simultaneously away to 14th-placed Sevilla before hosting midtable Real Sociedad in their final game of the season, when Barcelona are away to an Athletic Club side chasing Champions League qualification.
The reigning champions had kept the title race faintly alive by coming from behind to beat Mallorca 2-1 at home on Wednesday through Kylian Mbappe’s equaliser and Jacobo Ramon’s 95th-minute winner.