With the exquisite timing of a Wayne Rooney volley Barca, lead by club president and IMUSA supporter Joan La Porta, secured the single point they needed to win La Liga for the first time in six years.
There were fireworks over the Nou Camp last night as the team took two open-topped buses through the city to the stadium and a second successive all-night party took place after the 1-1 draw away to Levante on Saturday gave Barcelona an unassailable lead in the title race.
Fuses are short at the Bernabéu at the moment. Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw away to Seville ended any hopes of overhauling Barcelona and the galáctico era appears to have ended after two seasons without a trophy. That they have been the two seasons that David Beckham has played for the club have not escaped notice, not least by the England captain himself. "I don’t want to leave here empty-handed," Beckham said. He may still be at the club at the beginning of next season — for his marketing potential rather than as a cornerstone of a new side — but it is unlikely that Michael Owen will remain in Spain.
"What the Barcelona players have done this season has been absolutely magnificent," Laporta said. "They have played some brilliant football and have won people over with the way they have approached the game and for me, as club president, that is a massive source of pride."
Laporta is no doubt relieved that his pursuit of Beckham did not end successfully for if it had he would not have secured the signature of World Player of the Year - Ronaldinho.