FC Barcelona v Reus Deportiu: League champions (8-4)

Barça have followed up their midweek victory in the European League by defeating Reus Deportiu 8-4 at the Palau Blaugrana to claim their 25th OK Liga title.

The game began with Reus Deportiu offering a guard of honour to the continental champions followed by an emotional minute silence in memory of the boys from the Monterrubio de la Serena youth futsal team that tragically lost their lives in a road accident today.

Gual off

The game started well for the home side, with early goals from Pablito Álvarez and Marc Gual, but the latter was red-carded moments later and Reus converted the ensuing penalty before Reinaldo Garcia made it el 3-1. Casanovas then narrowed the gap from the penalty spot, and it was yet another penalty that saw Marín make it 4-2 before the break.

The second half had only seen one goal, for Reus, when it reached the final five minutes. Reinaldo and Pablo Álvarez made it 6-3, and then Torra came on to score more and sentence the match, Rubio’s late goal for Reus merely serving as consolation.

Furthering the legend

The titles celebration could begin. It’s the section’s 25th in all, extending their record as the Barça team with the most national professional league titles to its names, ahead of football with 22, handball with 21, basketball with 17 and futsal with three.

They are also the dominant side in the competition. Reus, Liceo, Igualada, Voltregà and Noia have all won it at some time or other, but none come close to Barça’s 25. They won 13 de consecutive titles from 1998 to 2010, although more recent editions have been far closer run affairs.

After also collecting the Spanish Supercup and European League this year, Ricard Muñoz has won the title in his first season as head coach. But for player Aitor Egurrola this is no new experience at all. This is his 14th national league title, and there aren’t many people in sport who can say that.