Barcelona won their first La Liga title for four years by beating Espanyol on Sunday evening but their celebrations were cut short when opposition fans stormed the pitch to chase the jubilant players off.
Xavi’s side secured their 27th league title with a 4-2 win at their local rivals thanks to goals from (2), Alejandro Balde and , with only late consolations from Javi Puado and Joselu for the home side.
The Barca players were understandably jubilant and were celebrating together in the centre-circle at the RCDE Stadium.
However, the celebrations didn’t last long as the players went from joyful to panicking, with Espanyol fans breaking onto the pitch and dashing towards them.
The players, along with members of staff who were on the field celebrating, ran down the tunnel to escape the onrushing opposition fans, ending their little party in swift fashion.
There were clashes between the fans and security staff as they tried to put a halt to the pitch invasion, with Spanish publication Marca reporting that ‘hooded thugs launched missiles at police and destroyed TV equipment.’
The party will go on elsewhere, though, after Barcelona wrapped up the title with four games to play, currently 14 points clear of Real Madrid.
The anger of the Espanyol fans will only have been increased by their own position in La Liga as they sit 19th in the table.
However, the pitch invasion won’t help the club, with Mundo Deportivo reporting that it could result in a fine of up to €90,000 (£78,000) and a ‘total closure of the sports venue for a period spanning from one game to one season.’
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