Lionel Messi fittingly sealed Barcelona’s 26th La Liga title on Saturday by coming off the bench to score the only goal in a 1-0 win over Levante in front of a jubilant Camp Nou crowd, who celebrated a remarkable eighth league crown in 11 years. Barcelona’s captain decided the game and the title in the 62nd minute as he received a header from Arturo Vidal, effortlessly freeing himself from two defenders with his right foot before using his left to plant the ball into the far bottom corner.
Messi had started on the bench along with Sergio Busquets as Ernesto Valverde had one eye on Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool. But the coach inevitably turned to his talisman with the game goalless at half-time, despite the best efforts of Philippe Coutinho, who had numerous attempts on goal and struck the crossbar before being withdrawn for Messi.
The Argentinian needed just over a quarter of an hour to have the desired effect, scoring his 34th league goal in 32 appearances this season. With 13 assists to his name as well he has had a hand in more than half his side’s 86 goals.
“Messi was always ready to come on and I always knew he was going to play but we also have a game on Wednesday. He has to stay active and he scores goals everywhere he goes and he has won us this title,” Valverde said.
“It is very difficult to win this title, especially with this margin. We have done it two years in a row and it’s fantastic to see the fans celebrate the title like this at home. Now we want to go and celebrate it.“
Cries of “champions” rang out from the 91,000 supporters in the Camp Nou but the home players’ concentration sometimes seemed lacking and José Luis Morales should have levelled for the visitors but blasted over the bar. Levante also hit the post in the final stages as the hosts were left clinging on to their narrow advantage in stoppage time.
“They turned us upside down and I think that was down to nerves. They had a few chances but it was incredible when they hit the post,” Valverde said. “We couldn’t kill the game off and they started to believe while we get more nervous but luckily we were able to see out the win.“
Messi, who became the first player to win 10 La Liga titles with Barcelona and only the third player from any club to do so, hoisted the trophy in the air before joining his teammates and their children on a lap of honour. Barcelona lead the standings on 83 points after 35 games, nine clear of second-placed Atlético Madrid with three matches left – an unassailable advantage due to their superior head-to-head record.
Valverde’s side have now taken the first step in their bid to win a third treble in a decade. After their Champions League semi-final against Liverpool, when they will be bidding to reach the final of Europe’s premier club competition for the first time since 2015, they play Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on 25 May.
