Lamine Yamal had not yet officially crossed the finish line, but the celebration had already begun, with everyone joining in his exuberance. Although the match was not over, it felt as if it already was\u2014the derby had effectively concluded. In previous seasons, Barcelona secured their last two league titles against RCD Espanyol, leaving the city and returning as champions. This time, it was the 18-year-old Yamal who symbolized that triumphant escape.<\/p>\n
The decisive moment occurred with just three and a half minutes remaining on Saturday night. Marc Casad\u00f3 threaded a pass through to Yamal, who then confronted Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic. Yamal blocked Dmitrovic\u2019s clearance, which fortuitously set him up for the goal. With an empty net in front of him, Yamal took a moment to relish the occasion, slowing down, smiling, and raising his arms in celebration, reminiscent of Usain Bolt’s iconic poses. While the match was not yet complete, he and his teammates were already aware of their impending victory.<\/p>\n
With a sense of accomplishment, Yamal carried the ball into the net and took a seat on the advertising boards, reflecting on his achievement. His teammates rushed to congratulate him, with Ferm\u00edn L\u00f3pez being the first to reach him. With a 3-1 lead against their city rivals and a nine-point advantage over their closest competitors, Yamal’s goal marked a significant milestone\u2014the league title was within their grasp. At just 18 years old, this would be Yamal’s third championship. He adjusted his hair, performed a little dance, and the match, now effectively over, resumed for a brief moment. Just twenty-six seconds later, Marcus Rashford scored again, assisted by another pass from Yamal.<\/p>\n
The third goal was emblematic, showcasing the nature of the title race: not officially secured yet, but certainly close enough to warrant celebration. The fact that Yamal was the one to score felt entirely appropriate, especially given his playful demeanor at the moment; his presence on the field was itself a significant achievement.<\/p>\n
Barcelona had taken an early lead, with Ferran Torres ending a 14-game goal drought by scoring twice, the second of which came from a remarkable pass by Yamal. As the match approached its planned substitutions, both Yamal and Pedri were set to rest for the upcoming Champions League fixture at Metropolitano. Espanyol, having not won a single match in 2026 and enduring a 14-game winless streak since their last encounter with Barcelona, faced a daunting challenge. Their coach, Manolo Gonz\u00e1lez, expressed frustration over defensive lapses that led to gifted goals, notably highlighting the struggles against Gavi, who, at just 5ft 7in, managed to outjump defenders. In the tunnel, Gavi had urged his teammates to secure a third goal to seal their fate.<\/p>\n
However, Pol Lozano managed to score for Espanyol shortly after the hour mark, making the derby more competitive, prompting Hansi Flick to keep Yamal and Pedri on the field. A local newspaper humorously noted Espanyol’s ongoing struggles, likening their performance to a malfunctioning vehicle. Despite having a 2-1 lead with mere minutes left, there was a moment of anxiety when Roberto Fern\u00e1ndez almost equalized. The atmosphere turned tense, as fans recalled the grim history of local football. Yet Yamal reemerged, energizing the Camp Nou crowd, while Espanyol found themselves unwelcome guests at a celebration.<\/p>\n
Chants of “Ol\u00e9s” filled the stadium, with fans taunting Espanyol about their relegation prospects. Despite an impressive start to the season, Espanyol\u2019s lead over the relegation zone was dwindling, with only five points earned from their last 42. The fans even broke into a mocking chant about Espanyol’s misfortunes. As the final whistle blew, there were mixed emotions\u2014though some frustrations were expressed, most players embraced each other. Eight of Barcelona’s players were products of the academy, each understanding the significance of this rivalry, as they celebrated with chants of “Yes, we can!”<\/p>\n
Before the derby, Flick had emphasized the importance of the Champions League, suggesting that was their primary target. Nevertheless, his lineup for the derby demonstrated a commitment to winning domestically as well. Real Madrid had dropped points in their previous match, which added to Barcelona’s motivation. As the derby unfolded, fatigue was a concern, but the opportunity to secure a title was too enticing to ignore. In the end, Yamal’s goal solidified the title as an imminent reality.<\/p>\n
The outcome was undeniable. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s recent draw with Girona, in which they were denied a last-minute penalty, had ignited frustration among their supporters. However, the discontent largely stemmed from their own team’s performance, as fans recognized the straightforward truth: Barcelona had outperformed them significantly this season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lamine Yamal had not yet officially crossed the finish line, but the celebration had already begun, with everyone joining in his exuberance. Although the match was not over, it felt as if it already was\u2014the derby had effectively concluded. In previous seasons, Barcelona secured their last two league titles against RCD Espanyol, leaving the city […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8695,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1369,1792,306,251,777,1012,569,88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk-barcelona","category-uk-espanyol","category-uk-european-club-football","category-uk-football","category-uk-la-liga","category-uk-real-madrid","category-uk-sport","category-uk"],"yoast_head":"\n