Four seasons after the triumph of their rivals, Barcelona returned this Sunday to win the Spanish Football League, which it has commanded in isolation since January, in a season marked by an investigation into payments to a former referee for sporting advantages.
In Cornella de Llobregat, home of Catalan rivals Espanyol, leaders cules (85 points) claimed their 27th national title, which has eluded since the 2017/18 season, after a 4-2 victory in 34- m round, when there were still four to play, and Real Madrid, in second place, 14 points, can no longer be reached.
The Blaugrana team, led by Xavi Hernandez, 43, the club’s benchmark, after 17 seasons without a break in the first team, was again on the way to titles and good performances, which they managed to finish without competition. .
Only Real Madrid, with 35 Spanish league titles, has more than Barcelona (currently 27), followed by Atlético (11), Athletic Bilbao (eight), Valencia (six), Real Sociedad (two), Deportivo da Coruña, Sevilla and Betis, all with one.
After seeing Madrid clubs celebrate La Liga, Real Madrid in 2019/20 and 2021/22 and Atlético Madrid in 2020/21, Barça received a much coveted trophy in the post-Lionel Messi era of leaving for Paris Saint.” – Germaine two years ago.
Despite a balanced start against Real Madrid, Barcelona captured an isolated league lead on Matchday 16 on January 8 with a 1-0 minor win in Madrid at Atlético’s stronghold and never dropped it again.
The La Liga journey ended in “tour mode” in the second half of a season in which she lost only twice – in Almería (1-0) and Madrid, at Rayo’s home (2-1). largely due to the “unrecognizability” of “Real” and early withdrawal from European competition.
In the Champions League, he “fell” in the group stage, being relegated to the Europa League, in which he was sidelined by English side Manchester Untied, and in the King’s Cup, which he last won in 2020. At 21, he stayed until the semi-finals, at the “feet” of Real Madrid.
Led on the pitch by Poland’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski, with 21 goals and six assists in the competition, Barça’s first season in the colors of the Blaugrana received decisive help from Rafinha’s youth, Frenchman Dembele. , Gavi and Pedri, combined with the experience of Busquets, who will leave the club at the end of the season, Jordi Alba and little-played Gerard Pique, putting an end to his career during the season. In goal, Germany’s Mark ter Stegen proved to be an important part of the success, keeping the net untouched for several games.
If within four lines in the Spanish championship the performance was very convincing, then outside it, FC Barcelona, led by Joan Laporta, after returning to the presidency in March 2021, saw that in March his name appears in a judicial investigation by millions of payments Jose María Enríquez Negreira, former Vice President of the Technical Referees Committee.
The culé season was marked by the negative face of a case that arose following investigations by the Barcelona State Ministry, which reported that the former head of the Spanish arbitration received almost seven million euros through the company for alleged consultations with the club from 2001 to 2018.
This case, in which the Catalan club is permanently charged with business corruption, will be joined to another case arising from the complaint filed by former referee and current video referee Estrada Fernández against Negreira and Dasnil 95, for the corruption of sports.
According to the Spanish court, Barcelona “maintained a strictly confidential verbal agreement” with José Negreira, so that he “in exchange for money, took actions aimed at giving preference to Barcelona in the decisions of the referees” in their games.
Most recently, due to financial problems related to the Catalan emblem, Barça TV will close on June 30th, saving around 15 million euros annually.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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