A hat trick by Lionel Messi was more than enough for Barcelona to win at Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, clinching the club’s seventh La Liga championship in the past 10 years.
The win but Barcelona 11 points clear of Atletico Madrid and 15 points ahead of Real Madrid with four weeks remaining in the season. Atletico only has three remaining games, so even a perfect finish combined with a total collapse would leave them short of catching the leaders.
Barcelona took a two goal lead early in the first half, but the hosts fought back valiantly, scoring twice to tie the game with a half-hour remaining. But Messi scored twice in the final 10 minutes to give Barca the 4-2 win, solidifying the team’s grasp on the league title.
“I’m very happy to have won this title,” Messi said following the match. “We know how difficult it is to win the league. We have to celebrate it.”
Barcelona Earns Double, Falters in Champions League
The win takes some of the sting out of Barcelona’s stunning collapse against Roma in the Champions League quarterfinals. While that loss prevented a true dream season for Barca, they still completed a double, winning both their domestic league and the Copa del Rey, the annual cup competition for Spanish football clubs.
Barcelona’s celebration was muted at the time of their victory, however. The clinching game took place on the road, and their win meant that Deportivo was sure to be relegated to Spain’s second division next season, souring the mood somewhat.
But all that was forgotten on Monday, when Barcelona came home and celebrated their triumphs with a parade for their supporters.
While there are no more titles for the club to win this season, Barcelona will still want to avoid a loss over their final four games. If they manage to do so, they will become the first team ever to go undefeated in Spain’s top league.
Real Madrid Could Spoil Undefeated Season
The title marks the 25th time that Barcelona has won the Spanish league, and the seventh time that they have finished first in the past 10 years. Barca and Real Madrid have historically dominated the league, with Real having won the title 33 times.
The biggest challenge remaining on Barcelona’s schedule will come on Sunday, when they play host to their historic rivals. Barca is considered an 8/11 favorite to win the match, but more importantly, Real Madrid is a 3/1 pick to win and ruin Barcelona’s undefeated season.
The end of the season will also mean the departure of one of Barcelona’s legends. Spanish midfielder Andres Iniesta announced last week that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season, having played for the club for his entire career so far. During his time at the club, the team has won La Liga eight times, the Copa del Rey six times, as well as four Champions League titles.
One thing that Iniesta hasn’t made clear is what his plans are for next season, though rumors have linked him with the Chinese Super League.
“I said I would never play against Barca so it is not going to be in Europe,” Iniesta said. “We will know at the end of the season – there are still things to talk about.”
