FC Barcelona pip Deportivo La Coruna 4-2 to be crowned the La Liga champions for record 25th time, courtesy of a hat-trick from their legendary striker Lionel Messi. Barça needed only a draw to clinch the title and complete an eighth domestic double after winning the King’s Cup last week. They marched ahead 2-0 lead with goals from their record signing, Philippe Coutinho, and top scorer, Messi, in the first half. Lucas Perez pulled one back for the hosts before the HT, to take the momentum going into the break.
Emre Colak found the back of the net to bring the match on even terms. Just when a possible draw was on the cards, Messi clobbed two goals in final ten minutes to complete a hat-trick of goals in the all important clash and seal the title in style.
The win also extended their unbeaten run in the La Liga to 41 games since 2-0 defeat at Malaga, 8 April 2017. They remain unbeaten this season.
Barca’s coach Ernesto Valverde said on marca.com: “When you chase it all season you say finally ‘the league is very long’. It is not decided only in a match. From the beginning we have been in the lead. In the end we were the best. The hard part is winning and winning.”
“I have not invented anything, in the end these players have already won titles and leagues with other coaches. It’s more of them than the coach. We have been a competitive, compact team and we have overcome many difficulties, and in moments I know it has lacked brilliance,” he added.
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| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | |||||||||||||||
| 1 | Barcelona | 34 | 26 | 8 | 0 | 87 | 21 | 66 | 86 | ||||||||||||||
| 2 | Atletico Madrid | 35 | 22 | 9 | 4 | 55 | 18 | 37 | 75 | ||||||||||||||
| 3 | Real Madrid | 34 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 82 | 37 | 45 | 71 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | Valencia | 35 | 20 | 7 | 8 | 62 | 36 | 26 | 67 | ||||||||||||||
| 5 | Real Betis | 34 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 54 | 53 | 1 | 56 | ||||||||||||||
| 6 | Villarreal | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 49 | 41 | 8 | 54 | ||||||||||||||
| 7 | Getafe | 35 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 40 | 32 | 8 | 49 | ||||||||||||||
| 8 | Sevilla | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 42 | 54 | -12 | 48 | ||||||||||||||
| 9 | Girona | 35 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 47 | 53 | -6 | 48 | ||||||||||||||
| 10 | Real Sociedad | 35 | 13 | 7 | 15 | 63 | 55 | 8 | 46 | ||||||||||||||
| 11 | Celta Vigo | 35 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 54 | 51 | 3 | 45 | ||||||||||||||
| 12 | Eibar | 35 | 12 | 8 | 15 | 37 | 47 | -10 | 44 | ||||||||||||||
| 13 | Alaves | 35 | 13 | 2 | 20 | 34 | 48 | -14 | 41 | ||||||||||||||
| 14 | Leganes | 35 | 11 | 7 | 17 | 29 | 43 | -14 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
| 15 | Athletic Bilbao | 35 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 38 | 45 | -7 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
| 16 | Levante | 35 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 34 | 50 | -16 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
| 17 | Espanyol | 35 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 29 | 41 | -12 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
| 18 | Deportivo La Coruna | 35 | 6 | 10 | 19 | 34 | 69 | -35 | 28 | ||||||||||||||
| R | Las Palmas | 35 | 5 | 7 | 23 | 23 | 70 | -47 | 22 | ||||||||||||||
| R | Malaga | 5 | 5 | 24 | 22 | 51 | -29 | 20 | |||||||||||||||
