"Class Act: Hansi Flick Praised for Classy Exit as Barcelona Clinch LaLiga at Espanyol"

 "Class Act: Hansi Flick Praised for Classy Exit as Barcelona Clinch LaLiga at Espanyol"

Barcelona secured their 28th LaLiga title with a 2-0 win over city rivals Espanyol on Thursday — but it wasn’t just the victory that made headlines. Head coach Hansi Flick earned widespread respect for swiftly guiding his celebrating squad off the pitch to avoid escalating tensions with the home crowd.

The win marked the second time in three years that Barça had sealed the title at Espanyol's RCDE Stadium. In 2023, celebrations turned chaotic when angry Espanyol fans stormed the pitch. Determined to avoid a repeat, Flick quickly took action as tensions flared during post-match celebrations.

Espanyol coach Manolo González lauded Flick’s decision: “He acted like a gentleman. He pulled his players away from the pitch to avoid further trouble. That’s how you handle a volatile situation.”

The match began under a cloud of tension. Chants of “Suspend the match” echoed early on, and kickoff was delayed briefly after a car struck fans outside the stadium, injuring more than a dozen. Police are still investigating the incident.

On the field, 16-year-old Lamine Yamal lit up the match with a stunning goal shortly after halftime. Espanyol’s Leandro Cabrera was then sent off for elbowing Yamal. Fermín López added a second goal deep in stoppage time, sealing the title for Barça.

The result crowned a domestic treble for Flick in his first season, adding LaLiga to the Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey titles. Despite the emotional win, Flick emphasized respect: “We celebrated in the dressing room. That’s where it belongs.”

Barça will mark the achievement with a city-wide parade on Friday, but for Flick, seeing the smiles of fans will be the real reward.

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