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Barcelona Claims La Liga Title After Winning Espanyol

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Barcelona has won La Liga for the first time since 2019 by winning Espanyol 4-2 on Sunday, wrestling the title back from rivals Real Madrid.

The Catalan giants clinched their 27th Spanish championship at the home of their neighbours, with scenes turning ugly at full time as celebrating Barcelona players were chased from the field by pitch invaders.

Robert Lewandowski struck twice for Barcelona, along with goals for Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde, while Javi Puado and Joselu pulled two back late on for the hosts.

Barcelona’s players leave the pitch in a hurry as Espanyol fans invade the pitch after the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on May 14, 2023.

Barcelona have endured a troubled period on and off the pitch in recent years but their triumph signals significant improvement, with coach Xavi Hernandez winning his first major trophy since taking over in November 2021.

President Joan Laporta’s rebuild was widely criticised last summer in light of the club’s perilous financial situation.

Barcelona’s players celebrate winning their 27th Spanish league championship after the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on May 14, 2023.

Early Champions League elimination was a blow, but the club won the Spanish Super Cup in January, before sealing La Liga glory with four games to spare.

“It’s a magnificent feeling, (of) work well done,” Xavi told Movistar.

“Ten months of work and sacrifice. The fans deserve it, the club, it gives us stability and security that things are being done well.

“We sealed La Liga with a fantastic game, we were brilliant.”

Xavi did not spring any surprises with his line-up and Barcelona’s first team took to the pitch with one goal firmly in mind, the end finally in sight.

Barcelona’s players celebrate winning their 27th Spanish league championship after the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on May 14, 2023.

They conjured an electric display, one of their finest this season, to seal their triumph and leave their city rivals 19th, four points from safety with four matches remaining.

Barcelona broke the deadlock after 11 minutes with a well-worked goal, finished off by Lewandowski for his 20th of the season in La Liga.

Ronald Araujo played an inch perfect long pass for left-back Balde, who blazed past Espanyol defender Oscar Gil and crossed for Lewandowski to bundle home from close range.

Gil was beaten by Balde again for the second goal, this time scored by the young left-back after Pedri darted to the byline and scooped an inviting cross to the back post.

Barcelona’s players celebrate winning their 27th Spanish league championship after the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on May 14, 2023.

It was Balde’s first goal for Barcelona, capping a superb breakthrough season for the youngster, who has phased veteran defender Jordi Alba out of the side.

Espanyol goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco tipped away a Lewandowski effort as Barcelona poured forward, with the hosts battling not to be blown away.

 ‘Can’t lack respect’

It worked for a while, but visitors grabbed the third before half-time when Raphinha put the ball on a plate for Lewandowski to roll home.

The Polish striker’s arrival from Bayern Munich was a key part of last summer’s rebuild and despite a dip in the second half of the season, has paid the Catalans back in goals.

Barcelona’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on May 14, 2023.

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen made a sublime save to deny former team-mate Martin Braithwaite from close range in stoppage time at the end of the first period.

Kounde headed home the fourth early in the second half from Frenkie de Jong’s perfect chipped pass as Espanyol’s defence crumbled yet again.

Barcelona’s French defender Jules Kounde (L) celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat on May 14, 2023.

Some Espanyol fans headed for the exits early while others demanded the board resign, including aiming one unsavoury chant at the club’s Chinese owners.

Ter Stegen denied Puado when through on goal, determined to earn a La Liga record-equalling 26th clean sheet of the season in the top flight.

However moments later the Espanyol forward found himself through on goal once more and this time scored with a sublime lob — small consolation in the face of Espanyol’s defeat and Barcelona’s glory.

Joselu pulled another goal back in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late.

Xavi’s side celebrated at full-time, to the anger of Espanyol fans, who invaded the pitch, with Barcelona players sprinting down the tunnel to escape.

“The celebration is normal, but I know we’re not at home and we can’t lack respect,” added Xavi.

“I know it’s difficult to control but I told them the best thing would be to get inside now.”

AFP

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BREAKING :Tinubu Splash Cash Rewards on Flamingos

Savings certificates of 100 million naira each with GTBank

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Photo: The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, received the victorious players and technical crew on behalf of the President at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja.

Here is the details of the cash reward:

– Savings certificates of 100 million naira each with GTBank

COACH – 100 million cash

TECHNICAL TEAM -50 million cash

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Senate Approves N100m For World Cup Winning Flamingos

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The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday approved a ₦100 million cash reward for the Under-17 Flamingos in recognition of their historic triumph at the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, who praised the young players for their determination, resilience and unwavering commitment throughout the tournament in Morocco. Lawmakers described the victory as a landmark achievement that has brought immense honour to Nigeria and the African continent.

Contributing to the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) particularly celebrated the Flamingos’ emphatic 2-1 final victory over Japan. He hailed the performance as a powerful demonstration of Nigeria’s sporting excellence and called for meaningful financial support for the squad.

The Senate subsequently urged the Federal Government to match its gesture by providing a similar reward for the players and their technical crew. Lawmakers insisted that the team’s unprecedented success deserves full national recognition and celebration.

The Flamingos made history on November 7 by defeating Japan 2-1 in the final in Rabat, becoming the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Goals from Awawu Bashiru and Golden Ball winner Oluebube Umejiaku secured the title after the side recovered from an opening-group defeat to Poland and went on to win their remaining six matches.

Senators also congratulated Nigerians on the victory and commended President Bola Tinubu for what they described as adequate funding of sports development, which they credited as a contributing factor to the team’s success.

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Flamingos bring World U-17 trophy home to Abuja

There is no way the history of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be written without your names. The Federal Government is happy and the generality of Nigerians are happy about this accomplishment.

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Nigeria’s U-17 Women’s team, the Flamingos, touched down in Abuja yesterday to a hero’s welcome after being crowned world champions.

They secured the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup title in Morocco on Saturday, overcoming a hard-fighting Japanese team 2-1 in the final to become the first African nation ever to win the tournament.

The victorious girls arrived the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from where they were taken and camped in a luxurious hotel in Abuja.

The Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, and members of the NFF Management paid a visit to the Flamingos at their Abuja hotel in the afternoon.

They lauded the NFF and the entire Nigeria football family for the hard work, discipline and dedication of the young players.

Ikpeme fed the team with words of encouragement and motivation, assuring them of the Federal Government and the good people of Nigeria’s appreciation for how they had improved the country’s position on the world football map.

He reiterated that not only is Nigeria the first African country to win the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, Nigeria is also the first African country to win male and female titles of the FIFA U17 World Cup.

There is no way the history of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup will be written without your names. The Federal Government is happy and the generality of Nigerians are happy about this accomplishment.

Our prayer is that as a collective and as individuals, you will continue to improve your game to get even better and take your game to the next level.”

He concluded with a fatherly advice to the girls, telling them to make a commitment to improve in every area of their game that they believe they have shortcomings, and never to stop aspiring for greater things.

“My prayer to you all is that, as you have decided to take football as a career, your career will not end abruptly; it will keep progressing.

As a federation, we want to see that you progress from the U-17 level to the U-20 and then the Super Falcons.”

Credit: Daily Trust

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