FC Barcelona clinched the 2018-19 La Liga title after beating Levante at Camp Nou on Saturday night, mathematically eliminating second-place Atlético Madrid from contention and giving Ernesto Valverde's team its first title of the season with three league games still to play. It is the earliest calendar date in the 21st century on which Barça have captured the La Liga title. The 2018-19 title further cements Barça's dominance in the Spanish top flight — the Catalans have now claimed eight of the last 11 La Liga championships, which have come over more than a decade of glory led by the greatest player of all time, the team's captain Leo Messi, who has become the first player in Club history to win ten La Liga titles. Similar to last season, when the team clinched with three games to play, Barça led the competition practically from start to finish, and will have been number one in 34 of the 38 weeks this season. In the four weeks Barça were not the leaders, they were in second place — twice on goal differential alone and twice by just a single point. Including last season, Barça will have led the league in 70 of the 76 weeks since Ernesto Valverde became the team's head coach. From the sidelines, Valverde has conducted the blaugrana orchestra — he has used a total of 26 different players — with serenity and intelligence, while always respecting Barça's emblematic style of play. How else could one explain such impressive triumphs like the 5-1 rout of Real Madrid at Camp Nou — without Leo Messi, nonetheless, who was injured — as well as important victories at RCD Espanyol, at Sevilla, at Real Madrid, and at Real Betis, all of which were decisive in delivering the title this season Now, the only thing left to do in La Liga is to celebrate. Meanwhile, two more objectives remain — the Champions League semifinal clash with Liverpool, and the Copa del Rey final against Valencia. It isn't over yet!<doc-sep>Barcelona wrapped up its 26th La Liga title as Lionel Messi came off the bench to score the winner in a 1-0 victory over Levante on Saturday that could be the catalyst for treble success. The result at Camp Nou means Ernesto Valverde's men sit nine points ahead of nearest rival Atletico Madrid, against whom it boasts a superior head-to-head record, with three games to go. And Barca still has the chance to lift two more trophies, with a Champions League semifinal against Liverpool and a Copa del Rey final with Valencia to come. Valverde's decision to again leave Messi on the bench, perhaps with an eye on Wednesday's first-leg visit of Liverpool, will have provided some initial comfort to the visitors. In the reverse fixture, the star forward was involved in all of Barca's goals – scoring three and assisting two – as the Catalans ran out 5-0 winners. But he was introduced at the break and made the difference, showing profligate team-mates Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez the way. Levante might have hoped for an easier outing in Messi's first-half absence, but goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez – who did not play in that match – was pressed into notable action twice inside the opening five minutes to repel efforts from Suarez and Coutinho. The same pair was denied again, Suarez at the near post and Coutinho with a gilt-edged headed chance, before the Brazilian struck the crossbar with a free-kick. Messi came on for the wasteful Coutinho at the interval and finally made the breakthrough just past the hour mark, with Levante failing to clear its lines and the Argentina striker supplying a two-touch finish from the edge of the six-yard box. Lionel Messi's strike powered Barca to a 1-0 win over Levante at the Camp Nou. - GETTY IMAGES Levante was stung into action and Jose Luis Morales should have levelled matters soon after, but he skied over the bar with under-worked Marc-Andre ter Stegen left exposed. Considering its complete lack of attacking threat for more than an hour, Levante did well to make the closing stages interesting and Enis Bardhi struck the post in a late scramble, but Barca ultimately sealed the three points they needed to celebrate an eighth La Liga title in 11 seasons. RELATED | Ronaldo 600: Cristiano's 10 finest goals for Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus What does it mean? Treble joy on the cards Barca has left its domestic rival trailling in its wake, having suffered just two top-flight losses with three games remaining this term. A two-legged tussle with Premier League title hopeful Liverpool is still to come in Europe's top competition, while it is strong favourite to see off Valencia in the Copa del Rey showpiece. Levante, meanwhile, are by no means safe despite a 4-0 midweek win over Real Betis and will take extra interest in the exploits of 18th-placed Girona on Sunday after returning empty-handed from Camp Nou for the 13th top-flight visit in a row. @LaLiga CHAMPIONS 2018-2019! 8 leagues in 11 years. Making the extraordinary seem normal. #WeColorLaLiga pic.twitter.com/8GF2paM493 — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 27, 2019 Fernandez the one-man wall He ended up on the losing side, but Fernandez could scarcely have done more to keep his side in the contest for as long as he did. It would be a harsh judge who pinned the blame for Barca's goal on the goalkeeper. What's next? Jurgen Klopp brings his buoyant Merseysiders to Camp Nou on Wednesday, with a trip to Celta Vigo next on Barca's agenda in La Liga. Levante hosts Rayo Vallecano next Saturday.<doc-sep>
Lionel Messi scored his 33rd goal of the Spanish top flight season as Barcelona topped Levante 1-0, confirming the club’s seventh La Liga title in the last 10 years. Messi started the match on the bench, but came on at halftime to replace the continually ineffective Philippe Coutinho. Messi needed just 17 minutes to find the back of the net, with Levante unable to clear in the 62nd minute and a charging Arturo Vidal stole the ball and immediately fed his superstar striker in the box. The one was all Barcelona would get, but it wasn’t without trying. Barcelona absolutely beat Levante into submission, outshooting the visitors at the Camp Nou 23-7, including 12-2 on frame. Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernández made 11 saves but came up one short. The league title is the 10th in Lionel Messi’s stunning career, becoming just the third player in Spanish top flight history to reach that mark and the first for a club other than Real Madrid. He is also the first foreign player to reach that mark. Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid came closer to confirming a second-place finish with a 1-0 win over Real Valladolid. The lone goal came from a terrible error by Valladolid defender Joaquin who headed the ball into his own net on an attempted clear. With three games remaining, the three points moved Atletico nine ahead of Real Madrid who plays tomorrow. Alaves and Athletic Club drew 1-1 in a disappointing result for both sides as they look to strengthen European places. Beñat and Borja Baston cancelled each other out just before halftime, and that was it for either squad as neither side gets a leg up in the chase for a Europa League position. Athletic remains in seventh with 50 points, two back of Valencia in sixth, while Alaves sits just behind them in eighth with 47 points. Leganes and Celta Vigo drew 0-0 in a match that featured just three total shots on target. Leganes is already safe and has little to play for, but Celta Vigo will have wished for a better attacking display as they sit just three points above the relegation zone. Follow @the_bonnfire