5 crucial games in Barça's title run
F.C. Barcelona have sealed the title with four matches left to go thanks to a 14 point gap, before the 22/23 LaLiga season comes to an end.
Although it wouldn’t be fair to say that it’s been a cruise for Barça, given there have been some tough moments where the team managed to pull through despite not performing at their best.
So here are five key games for Barça in LaLiga which helped them secure the trophy:
Real Sociedad 1 - 4 F.C. Barcelona
After a disappointing 0-0 result to Rayo Vallecano at home in the first fixture of the season it was important for Xavi and his players to make a statement, taking into account the financial effort the club had made during the summer transfer window.
But visiting ‘Anoeta’ is never an easy task even though Barça have managed to overcome the dark period when playing at Real Sociedad’s stadium was an absolute nightmare. From 2011 to 2016 ‘culers’ didn’t win any of their eight matches there. Now, fortunately for them, it’s a different story.
Although the 1-4 scoreline doesn’t tell the whole story. Despite Robert Lewandowski scoring his first LaLiga goal after 45 seconds, Alexander Isak (now a Newcastle player) made it 1-1 shortly after. Then came the controversial disallowed goal from Brais Mendez in the second half. A long distance free kick which was intended as a cross went passed everyone including the keeper but wasn’t given because the refs considered Le Normand, who came from an offside position, was obstructing Ter Stegen. Had it counted, Barça might’ve ended the first two games with 0 points. But instead Ansu Fati came on shortly after to shake things up and led the team to a win with one goal and two assists.
Barça left Anoeta with enough self-confidence to win the following four games before the international break, scoring 14 goals and conceding none.
F.C. Barcelona 3 - 0 Villarreal
After the international break Barça seemed unrecognisable, barely pulling through in LaLiga and disappointing in Europe. Until Real Madrid beat them 3-1 to take the top spot and give them a reality check.
Barça were very vulnerable at this point, yet they managed to not give up and recover in the best possible way. A fantastic performance against Villarreal scoring three goals in seven minutes did the job and kept Barça believing in themselves. In fact they’d then go on to smash Athletic Club 4-0 in Ernesto Valverde’s return to the Camp Nou.
Osasuna 1 - 2 F.C. Barcelona
This was the last match before the World Cup break and Barça needed to win to secure the top spot they’d just recovered after Real Madrid had dropped points against Girona and Rayo Vallecano.
Xavi’s men had recently been hammered with yet another UCL blow, this time against Bayern Munich, followed by a nail-biting 93rd minute win against Valencia, to then beat Almería 2-0.
With Barcelona’s form dropping slightly, it was pretty obvious Osasuna weren’t going to be an easy opponent. In fact, things went from bad to worse for the visitors after David García scored in the 6th minute, because Lewandowski was then sent off in the 30th minute, which would lead to the controversial gesture touching his nose.
It seemed very unlikely Barça would survive 70 minutes at ‘El Sadar’, already one goal down. Yet Pedri gave the team hope scoring early on in the second half. Barça held on until they got their golden chance in the 85th minute with a pinpoint long ball from Frenkie de Jong that Raphinha lobbed over Sergio Herrera with his head. The team showed it had character and the capacity to react under very difficult circumstances.
F.C. Barcelona 2 - 1 Real Madrid
It was the fourth ‘El Clásico’ of the season and Madrid’s last realistic chance of putting pressure on Barça in the league, with 9 points separating each other.
The home team had the better start and generated some very good opportunities, but Real Madrid are known for scoring when they least deserve it. This time it was with an unlucky own goal from Ronald Araujo after Vinicius Jr. tried to cross the ball into the box.
Despite the setback Barça kept pushing and got the equaliser thanks to Sergi Roberto, just before the half-time break. Madrid looked more threatening in the second half, missing some good looks and even getting a goal by Marco Asensio which was later disallowed due to a very tight offside position. Barça had just enough luck on their side, because not only did that goal not end up counting, they also would go on to score in added time with Franck Kessié unexpectedly showing up to practically seal the title.
Espanyol 2 - 4 F.C. Barcelona
We couldn’t leave out the game that finished things off for Barça… and maybe even for Espanyol. A local derby that crowned ‘culers’ as champions of the 22/23 LaLiga season.
It felt like Espanyol would put up a fight given their desperate need for points, yet they were torn apart by Barça’s attack, conceding three goals in the first half and practically giving away the win to their rivals. Not only that, they’re now four points away from salvation and in need of a miracle.
Undoubtedly one of the sweetest wins for Barça this campaign who weren’t allowed to celebrate in a respectful manner, forced to run to safety by the aggressive ‘pericos’ who invaded the pitch.