Messi fires Barcelona to 26th La Liga title

Lionel Messi leads Barcelona to La Liga title

Second-half substitute, Lionel Messi, scored the only goal as Barcelona defeated Levante on Saturday to secure their 26th La Liga title.

It is their fourth Spanish title in five years and Messi’s 10th overall.

The back to back Spanish league triumph comes ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg with Liverpool.

Messi came on at the interval following a goalless first half and scored just after the hour.

He latched on to Arturo Vidal’s header and beat two defenders before stroking the ball past Aitor Fernandez.

Barcelona did not have everything their own way and Levante almost spoiled the party when they twice went close to equalising in the second half.

Jose Luis Morales broke clear on the left edge on the edge of the box only to fire into the stands.

Then at the death, Enis Bardhi’s shot hit the woodwork and it bounced into the hands of Barca goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, on the line.

Barcelona won the title with three games to spare and in doing so closed the gap on Real Madrid’s record of 33 La Liga titles to seven.

They are now on course to winning a treble of La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey this season.

The Catalans have not reached a Champions League final since 2015, when they last won the treble, and the focus will now switch to the first leg against Liverpool at the Nou Camp.

They also face Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday, May 25.