Thanks to goals from Lamine Yamal and Fermín López, FC Barcelona came from behind to lead Villarreal 2-1 at half-time, but ended up losing 3-2 in the second-to-last fixture of the season.

It’s never nice to lose, but this is one of the defeats that hurt the least. After winning the Clásico and the Derby, Barça were already mathematically assured of the Liga title, and the post-match trophy presentation, fireworks and celebrations were the main attraction this Sunday evening at Montjuïc.

the game as it happened

And it’s not often we see a game in which the two teams were celebrating at the end, but for Villarreal the result means they are assured a place in the Champions League next season.

Early setback

There was much speculation about the kind of team Hansi Flick would pick for this game, but other than Raphinha’s new hairdo, it looked very much the starting XIs we have been seeing all season, with Marc Andre ter Stegen back between the sticks.

Sadly, the game was only four minutes old and the German was picking the ball out of the net.

Ayoze Pérez, the highest scoring Spaniard in this season’s Liga, was always going to be a danger and he made no mistake in converting Pépé’s cross. We have seen Barça make umpteen comebacks this season, and now it was time for another.

Indeed, by half time, Barça had turned the tie around.

First half fightback

He’d already made some fine saves, but there was nothing visiting keeper Luiz Júnior could do to stop another Lamine Yamal left-footed special. Following a trademark shimmy into space, and as if to show there was no luck involved in his midweek goal against Espanyol, the teenager curled an almost exact replica inside the far post.

The other goalscorer in the title-clinching derby, Fermín López, continued his habit of finding the net in injury time to give the Catalans a thoroughly warranted lead at half-time.

For Barça the pressure was off before the game even started, but with Betis losing by two goals at Atlético Madrid (it actually ended 4-1), the outcome of this game didn’t matter too much to Villarreal either.

But as it turned they were going to win it anyway. Just like in the same fixture last season, Barça would find their efforts to come back from behind count for nothing as Villarreal reclaimed the lead in the second half.

Villarreal take the points

Five minutes after the restart, Santi Comesaña executed a fine finish to level up the scores again, and towards the end of the half, Canada’s Tajon Buchanan found himself unmarked on the end of Sergi Cardona’s cross to put Villarreal ahead.

The last three games between these sides had produced an immense 21 goals, and in this one we had another five.

Barça’s two unbeaten records, in all games in La Liga and at home in all competitions, had been ended.

Both are a shame, but ultimately there’s only one thing that really matters. FC Barcelona are La Liga champions 2024/25, and once the final whistle blew, it was time to celebrate at the Estadi Olimpic.

Força Barça