Brilliant Lionel Messi seals another La Liga title for Barcelona

 

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates with the Liga trophy as Barcelona won their 26th league title after the Spanish League football match between Barcelona and Levante at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 27, 2019. [AFP]

Lionel Messi fittingly sealed Barcelona's 26th La Liga title on Saturday by coming off the bench to score the goal in a 1-0 win over Levante in front of a jubilant Nou Camp crowd, who celebrated a remarkable eighth league crown in 11 years.

Barca's captain decided the game and the title in the 61st minute as he received a header from Arturo Vidal, effortlessly freeing himself from two defenders with his right foot before using his left to plant the ball into the far bottom corner.

Cries of "champions" rang out from the 91,000 supporters crammed into the Nou Camp but Barca's players dropped their concentration and Jose Luis Morales should have levelled for the visitors but blasted over the bar.

Levante also hit the post in the final stages as Barca were left clinging on to their narrow advantage deep into stoppage-time but relief came when they cleared a corner and the final whistle sounded.

Barcelona players celebrate becoming La Liga champions after winning the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Levante UD at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on April 27, 2019. - Lionel Messi clinched an eighth La Liga title for Barcelona in 11 seasons today as he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Levante. It is the Catalan club's 26th league title -- second in Spain to Real Madrid's record of 33. [AFP]

Barca lead the standings on 83 points after 35 games, an unassailable nine clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid with three matches left because they have a superior head-to-head record with Atleti this season.

Ernesto Valverde's side have now taken the first step in their bid to win a third treble in a decade.

They face Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals and will play Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on May 25.