Balde does know what the rivalry is in the derby

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Although the (lack) of competition has been decaffeinating the Catalan derby in recent years, there are players who are still lit by the Barcelona classic. "For the culés it is an extra motivation," Xavi Hernández had warned in the previous duel. It is surely not the case of Robert Lewandowski, author of two goals this Sunday at the RCDE Stadium that sealed the League title for Xavi Hernández's boys. The Pole is concerned about other things. He is basically occupied with the usual thing: the goal. And the striker took advantage in the hand to hand with Benzema to stay with the Pichichi. He already has 21 (31 in the season) and left four to the Frenchman of Real Madrid, who has signed 17 nets.

ESPEspanyol

2

Pacheco, Brian (Luca Koleosho, min. 84), Cabrera, Óscar Gil, Sergi Gómez (Javi Puado, min. 45), César Montes, Darder, Melamed (Edu Expósito, min. 86), Denis Suárez (Calero, min. 45), Braithwaite (Adrià Pedrosa, min. 55) and Joselu

BCN Barcelona

4

Ter Stegen, Koundé, Ronald Araújo (Alba, min. 62), Alex Balde, A. Christensen (Marcos Alonso, min. 74), Busquets, Pedri (Kessié Franck, min. 89), Frenkie De Jong, Lewandowski, Gavi (Ansu Fati, min. 74) and Raphinha (Ousmane Dembélé, min. 62)

Goals 0-1 min. 10: Lewandowski. 0-2 min. 20: Alex Balde. 0-3 min. 40: Lewandowski. 0-4 min. 53: Koundé. 1-4 min. 72: Javi Puado. 2-4 min. 92: Joselu.

Arbitrator Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea

Yellow cards Koundé (min. 1), Gavi (min. 38) and Alba (min. 81)

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Barcelona is crowned in the derby

In the Barcelona squad, in any case, not all are consecrated footballers who landed at the Camp Nou with the poster of media star, magnet for fans around the planet. And there are few better cases than that of Alejandro Balde to understand what the rivalry between the two greats of Catalonia means. If the fierce competition between Barça and Espanyol today only makes sense in the lower categories, the speedy full-back knows it like no one else: he has worn both shirts. When he was still hesitating between athletics and football, while playing for Sant Gabriel, Balde was offered to La Masia. In Barcelona, at that time, they did not see it clearly. Espanyol, fast, caught it for its lower categories. He lasted a single year dressed in blue and white. Albert Puig, at that time coordinator of the Barça quarry, took him to Sant Joan Despí. And what always happens in those cases happened: "His dream was to play for Barça," they say from the environment of the side.

The truth, however, was that while the Espanyol players, with the relegation pulling them by their heels, jumped onto the field scattered, distant in the pressure, empty of intensity in the second plays, Balde jumped onto the field ready to become the master and lord of the left wing. And he succeeded. The blue and white fans had not yet paid tribute to Dani Jarque in the 21st minute and the Barcelona side had already put the League title in the hands of Xavi. First to break Oscar Gil and leave the ball served to Lewandowski, then to sign his first goal of the season.

FC Barcelona players celebrate the league title after beating Espanyol 4-2. AFP7 via Europa Press (AFP7 via Europa Press)

Espanyol fans invade the field after the end of the match. AFP7 via Europa Press (AFP7 via Europa Press)

Security and police personnel protect the locker room tunnel. AFP7 via Europa Press (AFP7 via Europa Press)

Barcelona players gather in midfield to celebrate the title. Joan Monfort (AP)

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen tries to catch the ball in front of Espanyol's Leandro Cabrera. LLUIS GENE (AFP)

FC Barcelona midfielder Gavi contests the ball against Espanyol midfielder Sergi Darder during today's match. Alejandro Garcia (EFE)

B FC Barcelona players Pedri, Raphinha and Lewandowski celebrate the team's third goal, under the gaze of Espanyol defender César Montes. ANdreu Dalmau (EFE)

FC Barcelona player Alex Balde centers against the opposition of two Espanyol players. ALBERT GEA (REUTERS)

Espanyol's Joselu, right, jumps next to Sergio Busquets during the match. Associated Press/LaPresse (APS)

FCBarcelona players celebrate the team's first goal. Marc Graupera Aloma / Afp7 AFP7 via Europa Press (AFP7 via Europa Press)

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski shoots to score the first goal of the match. Joan Monfort (AP)

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández greets his counterpart at RCD Espanyol Luis García minutes before the start of the match. Alejandro Garcia (EFE)

The excitement over the pulse between the League title and relegation took as long as it took for Balde to appear. "We signed LaLiga with a fantastic game. We've been brilliant. The team has relaxed at the end and they have pulled with pride. We won LaLiga in a derby, which is not normal. It was a script scenario and we talked about it before the game. It gives us security to believe in the project. The work is there. We've been brilliant in the game in some games," he said. Captain Sergio Busquets, who celebrated his last title as a Barça, added: "I wanted to leave winning titles. And more with one as important as the League, which is that of regularity. The one we marked from the beginning. I'm very happy to leave like this. I've had a lot of recognition. I've been there for many years, I've had records and I'm happy to be able to go out like this."

"Winning four days from the end means we did well. Let's see if it is the first of a splendid stage, "added President Joan Laporta. And he looked at his coach: "Xavi has been decisive. Apart from the knowledge of football, he has the knowledge of the institution and the style. He has worked hard so that we can offer quality football. It has been decisive. We have a great coach. We are very happy."

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