BARCELONA — For the seventh time in 10 years and the 25th time in their history, Barcelona are the champions of Spain.
It’s been a decade of domination in La Liga for the Catalans. Even in two of the three years when they did not finish top, they were still in the running for the title going into the final day, missing out to Atletico Madrid in 2014 and Real Madrid last season.
There was never any danger of this season’s race going down to the wire, though. Barca, who could still become the first-ever team to go an entire top-flight season in Spain unbeaten, were nine points clear by Christmas and rarely looked back.
After last week’s Copa del Rey triumph, Sunday’s 4-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna completed a league and cup double with four games still to be played — including a visit from Real Madrid next weekend.
ESPN FC take a look at five key of the games as Ernesto Valverde’s side raced to the title:
Nov. 26, 2017: 1-1 vs. Valencia (A)
The Mestalla was rocking at the end of November as the top two met in Valencia. Neither side had lost going into the game, and it was billed as a chance for the home side, who have had a brilliant campaign under new coach Marcelino, to show their title credentials 14 years after they last won the league.
As with all big games in Spain, there was controversy. Lionel Messi’s first-half strike clearly crossed the line, but the goal was not given. Barca’s anger turned to panic in the second half when Rodrigo stabbed Valencia into the lead. As has been a recurring theme this season, though, there was a response from the Catalans with Jordi Alba scoring from a fine Messi pass in the final 10 minutes.
That Alba goal was a big turning point in the season. If Valencia had held on, they would have moved to within one point of leaders Barca. More importantly, it may also have given them the belief that they are capable of going head-to-head with Barca and Real Madrid at the summit of the table. In contrast, it could have knocked the confidence of Valverde’s side, who may well have gone on to lose more games.
Dec. 23, 2017: 3-0 vs. Real Madrid (A)
The story of the first half of Barca’s season was second-half goals. At one point, 40 of their 57 league goals had been scored after the break. Never was that statistic more emphatically on show than at the Santiago Bernabeu two days before Christmas.
A fairly even first half — you could even argue Madrid shaded it — was followed by a Barca blitz in the second. Luis Suarez opened the scoring, capping a wonderful team move, and Messi added a second from the penalty spot. Aleix Vidal completed the win in stoppage time.
With the three points, Barca moved nine clear of second-placed Atletico going into the New Year. Reigning champions Madrid, meanwhile, were left in their dust, 14 points back and effectively out of the running for top spot with more than 20 games still to be played.
Jan. 14, 2018: 4-2 vs. Real Sociedad (A)
The Anoeta curse is real. Or, at least, it was. Before Barca’s trip to San Sebastian in January, they had failed to win away from home against Real Sociedad in La Liga since 2007. That trend looked set to continue when goals from Willian Jose and Juanmi gave the hosts a deserved two-goal lead in the rain.
But Barca’s resilience was once again evident. Paulinho’s goal in the 39th minute provided the gateway to a second-half turnaround. Two Suarez strikes and a stunning Messi free kick exorcised the Catalan side’s Anoeta demons and, just as importantly, kept their unbeaten season intact.
Feb. 24, 2018: 6-1 vs. Girona (H)
Comeback wins and success against your direct rivals are all symptoms of a league-winning side, but it would not be as fun without the occasional hammering thrown in there. Among Barca’s many displays of intent this season were big wins against Espanyol (5-0), Eibar (6-1) and Real Betis (5-0), but perhaps their most devastating performance came against Girona.
Girona actually took a third-minute lead at Camp Nou through Portu, but that only served to awaken the beast. Barca were incredible for the following 42 minutes — Messi especially. The Argentine and Suarez both scored two each before the break against an admittedly open opposition. Barca eased up after the break, but Suarez still managed to complete his hat trick and Philippe Coutinho scored a long-range cracker.
March 4, 2018: 1-0 vs. Atletico Madrid (H)
There was the slight whiff of a title race in March. The “Hay Liga!” (“There’s a league!”) headlines were out as Barca, after three draws in five games, prepared to host Atletico, who had closed the gap to five points. If Diego Simeone’s side could win at Camp Nou, Barca’s lead would have been cut to two. Step forward Messi. The forward’s first-half free kick, his third in as many games, was the difference between two evenly-matched sides on the night. “If Messi had been wearing an Atletico shirt, the result would have been different,” Diego Simeone said. The league table might look different, too. But Messi was wearing a Barca shirt, and Barca all but wrapped up another league title by keeping Atletico at bay in the second half and holding on to the three points.
Samuel Marsden covers Barcelona for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @SamuelMarsden.
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