Barcelona stars flee La Liga title celebrations as Espanyol fans invade pitch

Barcelona players were frantically forced to run from the pitch after angry Espanyol fans charged at them during their La Liga title celebrations. The Blaugrana were confirmed as league champions with a 4-2 win over their city rivals however the game may now be best remembered for the scenes afterwards. 

Barcelona claimed the La Liga title in in emphatic fashion with goals from Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde and a double from talisman Robert Lewandowski securing the win meaning the club now holds an unassailable 14-point lead over fierce rivals Real Madrid. 

The players and staff danced together in the centre circle in the home of their city rivals after the full-time whistle was blown as they celebrated winning the league for the first time since 2019. 

However, as the camera zoomed into their celebrations, panic ensued. Barcelona stars were seen frantically running from the pitch as Espanyol fans invaded the pitch to try and disrupt the celebrations.

Players sought the safety of the dressing room as stewards and armed police tried to calm the situation, grabbing some fans who had entered the pitch and trying to usher others back to their seats. 

Footage later released from the tunnel showed some Barcelona players including captain Sergio Busquets and Marcos Alonso squaring up to some fans who had managed to make their way into the tunnel as police with riot shields tried to get in between them.

There were no Barcelona fans in the ground for the occasions after Espanyol fans were locked out of the reverse fixture at the Camp Nou in December. Xavi had not taken part in the celebrations instead deciding to head straight down the tunnel after shaking hands with the opposition managerial team. 

After the game, the Spaniard admitted he had told his players to return to the dressing room earlier than they did given they were not celebrating in their own ground. 

“I told them that was enough,” he said. “It is normal to celebrate, to be euphoric. But we had to remember that we were not at home, and have respect.

“In the end, these are emotions the players have. It is difficult to control. So I told them better to get into the dressing room.”

Espanyol fans remained on the pitch long after Barcelona players had returned to the dressing room as they protested against their own board, telling them to resign. 

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