FC Barcelona's Defining Moments in 2015 La Liga Triumph
FC Barcelona are back to their best. After a dry season last year, the Catalans have bounced back to win the La Liga under a new coach. Now they eye a treble this season.
Last season was an aberration for Barcelona. The Spanish Giants, used to winning silverware every season, failed to win a single trophy. This season the Blaugrana, under a new coach, have found both their form and rhythm.
On Sunday night they beat last season's champions Atletico Madrid to win their 23rd La Liga title. Here are five defining moments from Barcelona's La Liga winning season, their seventh Spanish Championship in the ten years: (Barcelona Clinch 23rd La Liga Title)
The 8-0 rout of Cordoba
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It took Barcelona 42 minutes to open the scoring, but once the Blaugrana got going they pumped in a total of eight goals against a hapless Cordoba. (Barcelona Led From Crisis Club to Champions)
The match also marked Luis Suarez's first hat-trick in Barcelona colours. It was Cordoba's worst ever defeat and one that mathematically sent them back to the 2nd division, from where they had only come last season.
2-1 home win in the El-Clasico
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It is arguably the biggest game in football and Barcelona's 2-1 home win over arch rivals Real Madrid helped them get one hand on the La Liga trophy this year. (Barcelona's New Era of Dominance)
Barca went into the 2nd leg of the El-Clasico with a slender one point lead over the Los Blancos in the La Liga points table. Jeremy Mathieu's opener was cancelled out by a Cristiano Ronaldo equalizer. But a second half strike by Luiz Suarez's proved to be the winner and sent the hosts four points clear in the title race.
It was also sweet revenge for the 3-1 loss at the Bernabeu, earlier in the season.
Claudio Bravo's clean sheet record
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In his first season with the club Claudio Bravo has made quite an impression. The Chile International became the default starter when Marc-Andre Ter Stegen missed time during the summer with an injury.
The 31-year-old then went 755 minutes without conceding a goal, setting a new La Liga record, and in the process making it difficult for coach Luis Enrique to justify benching the shot stopper. The record was earlier held by another Barcelona goal-keeper Pedro Maria Artola, who went 560 minutes without conceding a goal, 37 years ago.
Lionel's Messi's record of most La Liga goals
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Lionel Messi lit up the Nou camp on the night of 22nd November 2014, as he does on most nights when he steps onto the football pitch.
The Barcelona superstar scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 drubbing of Seville, taking his La Liga goal tally to 253 and making him the highest goal scorer in the league's history - breaking the record set by Telmo Zarra 60 years ago.
The scary thing is, he's just 27-years of age and has years to go before he hangs up his boots.
Edging Atletico Madrid to win the La Liga
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On the 17th May of 2014, Barcelona hosted Atletico Madrid - the visitors drew the game 1-1 and were crowed Spanish champions.
Exactly a year later, the roles have been reversed.
Barcelona beat Atetico Madrid 1-0 at the Vincente Calderon on Sunday to win their 23rd La Liga title. Apart from the title, what made the victory special was the fact that it came at a venue where the the Catalan giants had won only once in their last four trips.
Lionel Messi scoring the winning goal only proved to be the cherry on top.