FC Barcelona is on the verge of winning its 28th league title and hopes to do so tonight in the derby against Espanyol in Cornellà. The Azulgrana side came close to clinching the title last night without even playing, but in the end, Jacobo Ramón gave Real Madrid the win, postponing Hansi Flick’s side’s celebration. They will now have to win at the RCDE Stadium if they want to be champions today.
Winning LaLiga tonight depends on beating Espanyol on their home turf, something that Barça has historically done well. In fact, Barcelona won its last league title at that stadium in a match that could have ended in drama. As on this occasion, the Azulgranas had to win and did so with a 2-4 victory thanks to a brace from Robert Lewandowski, who was joined in the goal fest by Alejandro Balde and Jules Koundé.
After the victory, and despite instructions from coach Xavi Hernández, the Barcelona players remained on the pitch celebrating the league title in a huddle, which angered the ultra fans of the Espanyol team, who invaded the pitch and went after the Barça players. The rapid intervention of the police and security prevented any drama.
History calls for optimism when it comes to victory and winning the title at Cornellà. Since the stadium was inaugurated on August 2, 2009, Barcelona has not lost a single league game at this venue. What’s more, the last time FC Barcelona lost at RCD Espanyol in a LaLiga match was in the 2006-07 season.
The balance at the current Perico stadium is six draws and seven wins for the Azulgranas, three of them by four goals or more, showing clear superiority which, given the offensive record this season, especially thanks to the performance of the LRL, is another point in favor of optimism that we will not have to wait until the weekend to be proclaimed league champions.
If they fail to win, Barcelona will have to wait for their match at Montjuic on Sunday against Villarreal, where they should win. If they draw at Cornellà, they will need another point in their next matches to be crowned champions, as their seven-point lead over Real Madrid makes things easier.