Champion! Messi shoots Barca early for title

FC Barcelona is the Spanish champion. With their 1-0 win over UD Levante, coach Ernesto Valverde’s team prematurely crowned champions on the 35th matchday.

Lionel Messi led the Catalans to victory with his 62nd minute goal after ex-Bayer Arturo Vidal’s preliminary work. Messi has been directly involved in 38 goals (21 goals, 17 assists) in the past 19 competitive games against Levante. He had only come into play at the second half for Philippe Coutinho.

With a new points advantage over Atletico Madrid, Barcelona will not be able to take the championship in three outstanding games due to the direct comparison won (2:0 and 1:1).

For Barca it is the 26th league title in the history of the club. The Blaugrana have won eight of these in the past eleven years. Spanish record champion remains Real Madrid with 33 titles.

Now FC Barcelona can fully concentrate on the upcoming Champions League semi-final against FC Liverpool (Wed., 21 o’clock live on DAZN).