While You Were Asleep: Barcelona crowned champions, Brighton batter Arsenal, Pogba limps off
Barcelona as they won their 27th La Liga title, first in four years after a 4-2 win at city rivals Espanyol.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice to lead the Catalan club to its first league title since 2019. The title was secured with four rounds remaining and two years after Messi left amid the club’s financial struggles.
The last time Barcelona had celebrated a league title without Messi in its squad was back in 1998-99.
LA LIGA CHAMP🏆ONS! pic.twitter.com/enrozFf9gs
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 14, 2023
Barcelona won eight league titles in 11 seasons through 2019. It finished second to Madrid in 2020, then third — behind Madrid and champion Atletico — in 2021. It was second to Madrid last season.
Culers, this one is for YOU! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/tliyGm327Q
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 14, 2023
The victory over city rival Espanyol gave Barcelona an insurmountable 85 points from 34 matches, 14 points more than Real Madrid.
“It’s a magnificent feeling, a feeling of job well done,” Barcelona coach Xavi said.
La Liga is ours. So is the future. pic.twitter.com/69MIvVn2x6
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 14, 2023
“This is important to give the club’s project some stability. The league title shows that things have been done the right way and that we have to stay on this path.”
Brighton thrash Arsenal
Arsenal’s title hopes all-but ended on Sunday as they lost 3-0 to Brighton at the Emirates.
Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav and Pervis Etsupinan all scored for Brighton.
Man City are now four point clear of Arsenal and have a game in hand. They can win the league in their next game beating Chelsea.It only took six minutes of the second half for Brighton to go in front through Enciso’s header.
The game was effectively over when Undav struck in the 86th, lobbing a shot over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Having been eight points clear at the top of the league at the start of April, Mikel Arteta’s side have won just two of their last seven games.
Pogba in tears
Devastated Paul Pogba was reduced to tears as he’s taken off injured just 21 minutes into his first competitive start since Manchester United lost 4-0 to Liverpool in April 2022, as injury woes continue for the Juventus star.
Pogba fell to the ground clutching his left leg after kicking a ball with his other leg. He could be seen crying as he pulled his shirt over his face.
He is almost certainly out of the second leg of Juve’s Europa League semifinal game against Sevilla on Thursday. The first leg ended 1-1.
Pgba’s season has been affected soft tissue injuries and a recurring meniscus problem in his knee, that rendered him unavailable for the World Cup. He has meanwhile only made nine competitive appearances for Juventus, racking up just 137 minutes this campaign.
