BARCELONA: FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick guided his side to a second consecutive La Liga title on Sunday, just hours after learning of the death of his father, in an emotional night that he said he would “never forget.”
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Barcelona secured the Spanish league crown with a commanding 2-0 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid in a thrilling El Clasico clash at a packed Camp Nou.
The victory moved Barcelona to an unassailable 91 points, 14 ahead of second-placed Real Madrid with only three matches remaining in the season, officially confirming the Catalan giants as La Liga champions.
The triumph marked Barcelona’s 29th La Liga title and capped a dominant domestic campaign in which Flick’s side lost only four league matches.
An emotional Flick revealed after the match that his mother informed him earlier in the day that his father had passed away.
“This morning my mother called me and told me my father had passed away,” Flick told reporters.
The German coach said he debated whether to keep the news private but ultimately decided to share it with his players because he considers the team “like a family.”
“What the players did afterward was unbelievable. I will never forget this moment,” he said.
“I’m really proud of everyone — the players, the staff, and the club.”
Barcelona’s celebrations began early as Marcus Rashford opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a stunning free kick that curled past Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after Antonio Rudiger fouled Ferran Torres outside the penalty area.
Just nine minutes later, Barcelona doubled their advantage when Fermin Lopez delivered a cross into the box before Dani Olmo cleverly backheeled the ball into the path of Ferran Torres, who blasted a powerful finish into the top corner.
At full-time, Barcelona players tossed Flick into the air as thousands of fans celebrated another league triumph at Camp Nou.
The coach admitted he had “never” experienced such overwhelming support and love inside a stadium.
Despite clinching the title, Flick said Barcelona still aim to finish the season strongly and challenge the record 100-point mark in La Liga history.
He also stressed that the club’s major objective next season will be ending its 11-year wait for the UEFA Champions League title.
Spanish media reports suggest Flick is close to extending his Barcelona contract by an additional year beyond 2027.
“I feel I am in the right place at the right time,” Flick added. “We all want to continue and give even more for this club.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa admitted his side must improve collectively after a disappointing season.
“We need to take a step forward as a team and put the collective above the individual,” Arbeloa said.
Real Madrid entered the match weakened by injuries to key players including Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Arda Guler, and Rodrygo.
Midfielder Federico Valverde also missed the game after reportedly suffering a head injury following a dressing-room altercation with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni.
Star forward Kylian Mbappe was unavailable because of a thigh injury, while reports in Spanish media claimed the French captain faced criticism for travelling to Sardinia during his recovery period.
Earlier in the day, Umar Sadiq scored the winner as Valencia CF defeated Athletic Bilbao 1-0, helping Valencia move five points clear of the relegation zone.
The relegation battle in La Liga remains extremely tight, with several clubs still fighting to avoid relegation in one of the most competitive survival races in recent years.
