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The Financial Express

La Liga: Barcelona clinch 25th league title, send Deportivo to relegation

| Updated: April 30, 2018 22:25:02


Lionel Messi celebrates with his Barca team mates after winning the 2017-18 Spanish La Liga title with win at Deportivo - Reuters photo Lionel Messi celebrates with his Barca team mates after winning the 2017-18 Spanish La Liga title with win at Deportivo - Reuters photo

Barcelona secured the league title in Ernesto Valverde's first season as manager with a Lionel Messi-inspired victory over Deportivo La Coruna, who have been relegated.

Barca only needed a draw at the Riazor to clinch their 25th league title and complete an eighth domestic double after winning the Copa del Rey last week and they marched into a 2-0 lead with goals from record signing Philippe Coutinho and hat-trick man Messi in the first half.

Striker Lucas Perez pulled one back for Deportivo, five minutes before halftime and Turkish midfielder Emre Colak levelled for the Galicians in the 64th minute, according to a Reuters report.

Deportivo, who needed a victory to keep their survival hopes alive, came close to finding a winner and becoming the first team to beat Barca in the league this season.

But Argentine maestro Messi had other ideas, restoring Barca’s lead from close range in the 82nd minute before completing his treble with his 32nd league goal of the season.

Ernesto Valverde’s unbeaten side have 86 points from 34 games, 11 clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid.

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