Barcelona’s players celebrate their 24th La Liga title at the end of the Spanish league football match Granada CF vs FC Barcelona at Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium in Granada on May 14, 2016.
Barcelona sealed their 24th La Liga title as Luis Suarez took his tally for the season to 59 goals with a hat-trick in a 3-0 win at Granada to hold off Real Madrid’s late-season surge. / AFP / CRISTINA QUICLER (Photo credit should read CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images)
FC Barcelona clinched their 24th La Liga title with a 3-0 win over Granada
It was a nervy final weekend in La Liga as either FC Barcelona or Real Madrid could have won the league. Madrid were one point behind their bitter rivals and needed help in order to steal the title. All Barcelona needed was a win and they were champions. They were favorites to win the title heading into the final days of the season and that’s exactly what they accomplished with a 3-0 win.
The Catalans started off strong in the first half thanks to a brace by Luis Suarez, who got assists from both Dani Alves and Jordi Alba on both of those goals. It was 2-0 at halftime and it looked like Barcelona were cruising. They had some nervy moments in the second half as Granada forced Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to make some solid saves but a goal by Suarez in the dying minutes of the game sealed the title. It’s back to back La Liga titles for the Catalans as they held off a late rally in the season from Real Madrid, who beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 in their final game, to win the title.
Now Barcelona will look to make it two trophies in the season as they will face Sevilla in the Copa Del Rey final, a trophy that they also won last season.
Here are five things we learned from the game
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<p>It had its risks as pushing up the pitch leaves you exposed on defense, as Alves saw with the chance by Fran Rico in the second half. But with the Catalans style of play, that rarely happens.</p>
<p>It has been an especially good season for Dani Alves who has come back after a rough season last year. Many thought that the Brazilian right back was passed his prime but he proved the doubters wrong once again. With the arrival of Aleix Vidal, Alves was under a lot of pressure to perform week in and week out knowing one bad performance could see him lose his starting spot. He stepped beautifully.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/05/15/fc-barcelona-vs-granada-five-things-learned/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">2. Luis Suarez</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_411121" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">GRANADA, SPAIN – MAY 14: Luis Suarez (9)of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s first during the La Liga match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes on May 14, 2016 in Granada, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>2. Luis Suarez is the best striker in La Liga</h3>
<p>In the race for the Pichichi, award for top goal scorer in La Liga, between Luis Suarez and Ronaldo, it was the Uruguayan striker who took the title on the final day. First, he had an open goal in the 22nd minute as Jordi Alba played him a great ball that he tapped into the back of the net. That was the start Barcelona needed but they needed more goals. Suarez provided the big blow in the 38th minute when he headed home Dani Alves’s cross at the near post to make it 2-0.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>He then added a third to complete his hat-trick when he scored on another open goal, this time, thanks to the assist of Neymar. It was the perfect ending to the season for Suarez, who had an even better campaign this year than he did last year. His goal to games ratio is outstanding and is reaching Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo levels. Many questioned how he would fit in with Barcelona in terms of style and attitude. But he has proved the doubters wrong and looks at home wearing the Barca colors. He has formed a deadly trio with Messi and Neymar and the sky is the limit to how far they can take Barcelona.</p>
<div class="next-post amp-get-next-post lg slider"><a class="location" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-post-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/05/15/fc-barcelona-vs-granada-five-things-learned/"#"><span class="next amp-next-post-teaser">Next: </span><span class="amp-get-next-post">1. Spanish double</span></a></div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_411122" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">GRANADA, SPAIN – MAY 14: Luis Suarez of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with his teamates Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba during the La Liga match between Granada CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes on May 14, 2016 in Granada, Spain. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>1. Spanish Double still in play for FC Barcelona</h3>
<p>Even though they lost out in the Champions League after being ousted by finalists Atletico Madrid, the Spanish double is a real possibility for Barcelona. They have clinched La Liga and now have a chance to win the Copa Del Rey again. Barcelona was victorious in Spain’s domestic tournament last year, capped off with a 3-0 win over Atletic Bilbao. They will look to do the same to Sevilla, who also have the Europa League final to worry about.</p>
<p>Sevilla will be coming into that match in a slide after losing 4-1 to Granada and the Catalans will look to take advantage of their poor form. The last time these two teams met in a cup competition, it was a 5-4 win for Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup. Sevilla came back to tie the game in extra time at 4-4. But at the death, it was Barcelona who emerged victorious as Pedro, in his final game for Barcelona, smashed home a rebound off a free-kick. It was heartbreak for Sevilla and the taste of that defeat hasn’t left their mouth.</p>
<p>Barcelona will be looking to make it a Spanish double and Sevilla will be looking to make it a double as well.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">