Barcelona vs Levante result: Lionel Messi helps Barca wrap up title with three matches to spare
Relive the action as Barcelona win another league title
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Your support makes all the difference.Lionel Messi scored to help Barcelona clinch the Spanish league title after beating Levante 1-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday, cementing Barca’s status as the dominant club in Spain for more than a decade.
Introduced at half-time, Messi finally broke the deadlock when his shot beat Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez in the 62nd minute to start the celebrations at the Camp Nou.
Messi's league-leading 34th goal was his 46th in all competitions this season.
Barcelona's win puts the club nine points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid with three matches left to play.
Atletico beat Valladolid 1-0 earlier, forcing Barcelona to need a victory to wrap up the title this weekend before the club turns its attention to its upcoming European clash with Liverpool.
Barcelona won their second straight league title since Ernesto Valverde took over at the start of last season. It was also their eighth Liga crown in 11 years, a period during which Real Madrid has won two and Atletico one. Barcelona has 26 league titles, second only to Madrid's 33.
Barcelona are trying to complete a rare sweep of all three major titles this season. They host Liverpool on Wednesday in the opening match of their Champions League semi-final, and can win a fifth consecutive Copa del Rey if they beats Valencia in the final on May 25. Relive the action below.
Relive the action above.
The strike that sealed the trophy, which is to be presented to the man himself shortly.
The celebrations are well underway at the Camp Nou, jumping in a huddle as they celebrate their first La Liga triumph in front of their home fans since 2010.
Barcelona have only lost twice this season, and will now collect the trophy, which they hope will not be the only one they lift.
Well, that was quite peculiar.
Lionel Messi steps out from the line of Barcelona players and lifts the trophy on his own.
But no one deserves it more I guess.
The celebrations are well underway as the lights are turned off at the Camp Nou, and Gerard Pique begins his role as the party king, spraying the first bits of champagne on his teammates.
Barcelona have cut the gap to Real Madrid to seven in terms of overall La Liga triumphs.
Real Madrid : 33
FC Barcelona : 26
Atlético Madrid : 10
Athletic Bilbao : 8
Valencia : 6
Thank you for joining me this evening, as Barcelona won their 26th La Liga title.
The hosts edged a nervy affair with Levante thanks to substitute Lionel Messi's first-half strike.
The Catalan giants now face a huge clash against Liverpool in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Champions League, and will require a much improved performance, especially defensively.
But the night belongs to the Catalan club, who have retained the league title.
Thank you once again, and congratulations to Barcelona!
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