Barcelona secured the La Liga title on Thursday with a 2-0 victory against Espanyol. This result established a seven-point lead over Real Madrid, officially confirming the Catalans as champions and putting the top spot out of reach for their rivals.
Having been title favorites for months, the team added the La Liga crown to their Copa del Rey success, achieving their first domestic double since the 2017-18 season. Their commanding performance throughout the campaign, including a significant run to the UEFA Champions League semifinals, was not widely anticipated at the season`s outset. Barcelona began the season facing considerable uncertainty, grappling with both a change in management and persistent financial difficulties. However, things quickly fell into place under the guidance of Hansi Flick, who built a team that proved remarkably difficult to overcome from start to finish.
Barcelona frequently overpowered their opponents this season. This included a dominant display against Real Madrid, whom they defeated in all four El Clasico encounters, outscoring them 16-7 across these matches. Their success was bolstered by the impressive development of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Furthermore, Flick effectively maximized the output from his attacking players, including a revitalized Robert Lewandowski and the unexpectedly prolific Raphinha. Flick`s offensive-minded tactical approach not only allowed his side to overwhelm opposition defenses but also served to mitigate Barcelona`s weaknesses, particularly a sometimes vulnerable backline.
As celebrations get underway in Barcelona, let`s examine the key factors that contributed to their league title triumph.
Barcelona`s Attacking Onslaught
Given their financial constraints, a major overhaul of the squad through transformative signings was always unlikely at the start of the season, despite how necessary it might have felt after the previous campaign, especially in light of rivals like Real Madrid signing top players. Nevertheless, Hansi Flick made the most of the resources available to him, implementing an entertaining and highly effective style of play.
Barcelona fully committed to an aggressive, attack-oriented style. This involved employing a high defensive line, a high-risk, high-reward approach that ultimately succeeded thanks to the potency of Flick`s forward players, spearheaded by Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Yamal. They finished the La Liga season leading the league in goals scored, significantly outperforming their expected goals tally. This was facilitated by a varied approach that allowed multiple players to thrive. By the end of the season, Barcelona had five players who reached double digits in goals. Their scoring wasn`t just diverse in personnel but also in origin, with Flick`s squad also leading La Liga in goals scored from set pieces, including a notable number from corners.
Flick also made crucial adjustments to the players supporting the main attacking trio throughout the season. These tweaks further improved Barcelona`s winning margins, even if maintaining clean sheets proved challenging at times. Frenkie de Jong became a regular starter, stepping in to provide enhanced defensive stability. In goal, Wojciech Szczesny took over from Inaki Pena after first-choice keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a knee injury last autumn. While Szczesny had moments of uncertainty, his expected goals against average per game was more favorable compared to Pena`s.
Maximizing Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski
Perhaps the clearest examples of Flick`s unexpected success in transforming Barcelona into a championship-winning side are the performances of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, particularly the former.
Raphinha, who joined the club in 2022 from Leeds United and had previously been seen by some as representative of Barcelona`s struggles, essentially transformed into one of the world`s elite attacking players this season. The Brazilian international shifted from his more traditional winger role to a more central position, effectively operating as a second striker. Flick`s strategic decision yielded significant returns – Raphinha concluded what was a career-best season in terms of goals scored across all competitions, a considerable improvement on his previous high tally.
As for Lewandowski, there were suggestions last season that the 36-year-old striker was showing signs of decline. However, he experienced a resurgence after reuniting with Flick, his former manager at Bayern Munich. While perhaps slightly less involved in build-up play, Lewandowski became a much more frequent shot-taker this season compared to last, significantly increasing his shots per game average in La Liga. This increase in volume translated to more goals, with his goals per game average also rising. He also ranked highly in La Liga for expected goals and total shots.
Lamine Yamal Spearheads Youth Integration
For Hansi Flick, one of the more straightforward aspects of working with the existing Barcelona squad was likely the abundance of talented academy graduates ready for opportunities. He inherited a group that had already gained valuable senior experience under his predecessor, Xavi. While Xavi may have been partly compelled to rely on youth due to the club`s finances, he effectively initiated the integration of the next generation.
This young cohort is undoubtedly led by Lamine Yamal, who conclusively established himself this season as one of football`s brightest future stars. The 17-year-old has been a dynamic attacking force, contributing significantly with both goals and assists across all competitions, and ranking among the league leaders in key attacking metrics. Yamal`s impact extends beyond direct goal contributions; he is fundamental to almost every Barcelona attack. His exceptional passing ability, creation of breathtaking offensive opportunities, and remarkable poise in high-pressure situations are standout qualities. In Yamal, Barcelona already possesses a player capable of being the cornerstone of their team for years to come, offering a degree of stability amidst the uncertainty that has lingered since Lionel Messi`s departure highlighted the club`s severe financial challenges.
Yamal, however, is not the only young talent who made a significant impact this season. A number of other academy products became regular starters during the campaign, including Pau Cubarsi and Alejandro Balde in defense, and Gavi and Pedri in midfield. Like Yamal, these players are becoming reliable fixtures in a new era for Barcelona, potentially providing a sense of calm and optimism for a club that may continue to face restrictions in the transfer market for the foreseeable future.
Dominic Ashworth