New footage shows Barcelona players confronting furious Espanyol fans who’d stormed the pitch and chased them down the tunnel as they celebrated LaLiga title win
Shocking new footage has shown the moment angry Espanyol fans chased Barcelona‘s title-winners off the pitch – before several players confronted them in the tunnel.
Barcelona’s 4-2 win over their local rivals sealed the LaLiga title on Sunday night and the players were celebrating in the centre circle when the mood turned ugly.
Espanyol fans furious at not only Barcelona’s celebrations but their own impending relegation from the top-flight smashed their way through security cordons to storm the field.
The ESPN footage shows Barcelona players and staff scrambling to get inside the safety of the tunnel at the RCDE Stadium with one fan getting within a few metres of them before being blocked by police.
The video clip then shows Sergio Busquets, Marcos Alonso, Ronald Araujo and other yellow-shirted Barcelona players confronting the supporters as police wearing riot gear form a barrier.
Barcelona players are seen confronting angry Espanyol fans who’d chased them off the pitch following their LaLiga title win as riot police tried to restore order
Dozens of Espanyol fans invaded the pitch as Barcelona’s players celebrated in the middle
The new ESPN footage shows one shirtless fan storming down the tunnel and getting within a few metres of the Barcelona players before riot police intervened
Incredible video capture- Barca players barely made it into the tunnel and Espanyol fans came so close attacking them, Busquets, Alonso, Araujo all just a few feet from them inside the tunnel.
Video¿ via @ESPNFC
pic.twitter.com/Ik3UngKQRw— FCB Albiceleste (@FCBAlbiceleste) May 14, 2023
Eventually the Barcelona players retreat to the dressing room, where they were able to properly begin their celebrations.
Club president Joan Laporta was in the middle of the festivities as the players danced around in delight.
Wearing his best suit and tie, Laporta was drenched by water before getting into the thick of the celebrations.
Barca secured their 27th league title with a 4-2 victory over their near neighbours.
Xavi’s players linked hands and bounced around the centre-circle at the final whistle but the mood quickly changed as Espanyol fans raced onto the field.
Video footage captured the Barca players racing towards the tunnel as the home fans, some wielding weapons, didn’t take too kindly to their rivals celebrating.
None of the players were harmed as they made a hasty retreat, with riot police blocking the tunnel entrance.
But the new video shows how close some of the fans got to the Barca players.
Espanyol ultras stormed the field of play to confront Barcelona’s players on Sunday night
Barcelona were confirmed LaLiga champions and they were celebrating on the field of play
Rival supporters didn’t take kindly to the celebrations, though, and made an attack
The ring broke and players darted for the dressing room as fans made their ways onto the pitch
‘It’s normal to celebrate but I understand that we are not at home and we can’t be disrespectful,’ said Xavi after the game.
Relegation haunted Espanyol were shocking on the night and well beaten by a Barcelona team led from the front by Robert Lewandowski.
He scored the opening goal of the game on 11 minutes from Alejandro Balde’s assist and it was Balde who scored the second of the game on 20 minutes.
Five minutes before the break Lewandowski got his 21st goal of the season and his second of the night to make it 3-0 before half time.
He faded badly after the World Cup but has come back strongly in the run-in and will finish the season not just as a Champion but also as the top scorer in LaLiga.
The fans then directed their anger at the board as they continue to face the threat of relegation
Espanyol have conceded 16 goals in their last seven games and have four games left this year
Their fans made it clear that they felt what the team have been producing is not good enough
Jules Kounde got Barcelona’s fourth on 53 minutes and Barcelona finally eased up allowing Javi Puado and Joselu to make the scoreline more respectable.
‘It’s a great feeling,’ said Xavi. ‘It’s a job well done. This started in July and after months of work and sacrifice we have achieved our aim. The fans and the club deserve it, it gives us stability and security that things are being done well.
‘We have sealed La Liga with a fantastic performance. We were brilliant tonight. The team relaxed at the end and Espanyol showed pride.’