FC Barcelona is Spanish champion, completing the national treble. A goal like a work of art paved the way for Hansi Flick’s next triumph.
Not much is missing for a perfect season, but no one was thinking about the bitter exit from the Champions League on Thursday evening. With a spectacular victory in the Clasico against Real Madrid, FC Barcelona delivered the perfect response to the lost spectacle at Inter Milan and put themselves in pole position for the Spanish championship.
Barca only had one more step to take. Ironically, it was against city rivals Espanyol, who tried everything to spoil the party for their unloved neighbors. Espanyol almost succeeded in the first half and even came close to taking the lead, but the hosts missed two great chances.
The Blaugrana had to stretch themselves, but all they had to do was give the ball to Lamine Yamal. He spotted a gap on the right, sprinted into the center and then fired the ball perfectly into the left corner of the net from about 17 meters out. The next dream goal from this special 17-year-old was perfect. Once again, the question arose as to how good Lamine Yamal is actually going to be.
Flick: “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
In any case, he no longer surprises his teammates with goals like this. “Lamine’s goal is something he practices a lot. He scored twice in the same way during warm-ups today,” Pedri told ESPN after the game. The equally talented midfielder demanded that his teammates “keep an eye” on their five-year-younger teammate, but also “let him enjoy” moments like these. Because: “He’s fantastic.”
Hansi Flick has managed to keep his young team playing at a world-class level this season. The highly acclaimed former Bayern coach could not have imagined a better first year in Catalonia. “The family we have here is the most important thing for me,” said a modest Flick, naturally emphasizing the collective. “Everyone at this club has their job and does it well. Everyone knows how important they are to this club, to their team.”
Flick has won three national titles for FC Barcelona this season. His already well-stocked personal trophy cabinet has been enriched by three more trophies. The formula for success? “The atmosphere in the dressing room. I’ve never experienced anything like it.”
