Espanyol vs Barcelona. Spanish La Liga.
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Match report as Barcelona win the LaLiga title with four games to play after beating city rivals Espanyol 4-2 at the RCDE Stadium; Robert Lewandowski scores twice with Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde also on the scoresheet; Barcelona win LaLiga for first time since 2018-19 season
Monday 15 May 2023 08:16, UK
Barcelona's players were chased down the tunnel at Espanyol after sealing the LaLiga title with a 4-2 win over their city rivals on Sunday night.
A comfortable victory over the relegation-threatened hosts at the RCDE Stadium means Xavi Hernandez's side are 14 points clear of Real Madrid in second and 16 ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid with four games of the season remaining.
However, their celebrations in the centre circle were later cut short when a number of home fans invaded from the stands, chasing them off the pitch and away to safety, with police and stewards holding the supporters back.
In a statement released late on Sunday night, Espanyol said: "Espanyol regret the isolated incidents that occurred at the end of the match played at our stadium.
"Like our fans, defeat hurts us, but we will never accept violence, however residual it may be.
"On the other hand, we want to thank all the fans who have encouraged us today and throughout the season despite the sporting results.
"As we have always done, Espanyol show our categorical rejection of any type of violence in the world of football and will use all the resources at our disposal to eradicate it, showing, as always, full collaboration with the security forces in whatever they require."
During the match itself, goal machine Robert Lewandowski scored twice (11, 40) with Alejandro Balde (20) and Jules Kounde (53) also on the scoresheet as Barca cruised to their 27th league win of the campaign.
Javi Puado (73) and Joselu (90+2) pulled two goals back for Espanyol before the final whistle but it was too little too late for the home side. They stay 19th and are four points from safety after suffering back-to-back defeats.
Barcelona have now won the Spanish top flight 27 times - only Real Madrid have more titles (35) - but their celebrations were short-lived after a large group of Espanyol fans invaded the pitch from behind one of the goals and started running towards the newly-crowned champions.
The visitors had to rush into the changing rooms and security guards quickly intervened, but riot police had to stand in front of the tunnel's entrance to prevent the supporters from going in.
Barcelona head coach Xavi Hernandez: "It's a magnificent feeling, a feeling of job well done.
"This is important to give the club's project some stability. The league title shows that things have been done the right way and that we have to stay on this path.
"It's not Xavi's league, it's Barça's league, of a team that is growing, beginning a new era and the players have been vital, I'm just here to guide them.
"And also thanks to the work of the president and the club, who made a great effort, and Mateu and Jordi, who have done a great job too."
Referring directly to the pitch invasion, he added: "What happened at the end? It was better to celebrate inside the dressing room, out of respect for the rival, but we shouldn't give it any importance."
Barcelona will have the opportunity to celebrate winning the LaLiga title in front of their own fans next Saturday when they take on Real Sociedad at the Nou Camp; kick-off 8pm.
Espanyol continue their fight for survival next Sunday when they make the trip to 11th-placed Rayo Vallecano; kick-off 1pm.
