One victory from confirming the standings, by now screaming for weeks on end: that the crown in 2024/25's La Liga belongs to Barcelona. And fate has chosen its place as suitable to be practically symbolically significant, even as monumental as this die-hard devotee possibly would've considered to desire. This Thursday, against Espanyol, away from home, the culés could lift the trophy and maybe not even have to kick a ball to do it.
If Real Madrid slips against Mallorca, Catalan derby becomes the rule. But even if mathematics postpones suspense by a few more hours, Cornellà match has more than point at stake and, on top of that, may push the neighbor ever closer to the brink of relegation.
The rivalry blazes
If anything defines the derby between Espanyol and Barcelona, it is the historical disparity. Espanyol have never beaten their fiercest rival in La Liga in 27 attempts. Twenty losses, seven draws. It is the longest string of games without a victory by a team in a regional derby in the history of the tournament. At home, things are not much better.
Barça are unbeaten in 15 away games against Espanyol (eight wins and seven draws). If they don't lose this Thursday, they will match their longest sequence without losing a single opponent away, equalling the record against Villarreal between 2008 and 2024.
Blaugrana dominance is not just numerical, but also psychological. In the overall La Liga record, Barcelona has won 103 of 177 matches against Espanyol. Only Real Madrid have more wins against a single opponent in the competition, also against Espanyol.
The context that makes the derby hot
La Liga Matchday 36 has a finality to it. Barcelona comfortably leads, has a 16-match unbeaten streak (14 victories, two draws), and has scored 95 in 35 matches. It has been since the Messi years for the club and Cristiano Ronaldo years for Real Madrid that any team had reached that level of attack so far in the competition: the 1989/90 Real Madrid team.
And even that great historical figure only serves to highlight what Hansi Flick, with caution and efficiency, has built since he arrived: a ruthless, competitive, and dominant team. Even with minimal hype, the current Barça has turned into a steamroller and may close the campaign just on May 14, a talismanic date.
May 14, title day for Barça?
If superstition intervened, Barcelona would already be champions. On three occasions in the past 20 years, the club won the La Liga trophy on May 14 exactly. Most recently, of course, in 2023, against Espanyol itself, at the same RCDE Stadium. Lewandowski scored twice that time, Balde and Koundé finished the win. A 4-2 win. Party on the pitch, victory parade, and relegation hanging over the opponent.
Now, two years later, the script could perhaps be permitted to be repeated and with an even more unforgiving twist. Espanyol step onto the field in 14th position, with 39 points. They are mathematically not yet safe. Lega, who are in the drop zone, have 34. A loss could be costly, especially if Lega can manage an upset in the round.