Yamal avoids on-pitch scenes as Flick halts celebrations amid rising tensions—Espanyol clash history haunts again!
Barcelona sealed their 28th La Liga title with a narrow 1-0 win over Espanyol, thanks to a moment of brilliance from Lamine Yamal. But as jubilation was expected to flood the RCDE Stadium, things turned grim.
Key Highlights:
Yamal immediately headed for the tunnel post-match, avoiding celebrations—heeded manager Flick’s call for restraint.
Hansi Flick halted all on-field celebrations, visibly angry as players ignored pre-match instructions to maintain respect in light of the ugly 2023 scenes, when Barcelona were chased off the pitch by furious Espanyol fans during a title win.
Espanyol, fighting relegation, showed signs of frustration; the sprinklers were turned on during the celebration, further igniting tensions.
Off the pitch, tragedy almost struck—a car crashed into a crowd of fans outside the stadium, injuring 15. The female driver has been arrested, though police believe it was not deliberate.
Flick’s post-match comments emphasized humility and reflection: “I know what happened two years ago… I wanted to celebrate it inside.”
With the league title secured, Barcelona now sit on 99 official trophies, three shy of eternal rivals Real Madrid (102). But the night’s tone serves as a powerful reminder of the intensity and risks of the Catalan Derby—even in victory.
