Barcelona men and women team celebrate LaLiga titles with bus parade amidst Fans

Barcelona players from the men’s and women’s teams lapped up affection from thousands of supporters in the city’s streets on Monday afternoon to celebrate their dual league titles.

The achievement:

Xavi Hernandez's Barcelona claimed the club's 27th league title and first, since 2019, while Barca's women's team earned their fourth consecutive Liga F win as both teams rode in two open-top buses, heading from Camp Nou to the city's Arc de Triomf amid a sea of jubilant Culers

The celebration:

The players rode in two open-top buses, heading from Camp Nou to the city’s Arc de Triomf monument five miles away, the streets lined with jubilant supporters despite the threat of rain.

Defender Ronald Araujo was draped in a Uruguayan flag, while La Liga’s top scorer Robert Lewandowski, wearing sunglasses and a Barcelona scarf, waved to fans.

Coach Xavi, whose name was chanted frequently, threw down a can of beer to delighted thirsty fans below.

Feeling among supporters was positive, as expected during a parade, although they expect more to come from both teams in Europe.

Players from both sides wore t-shirts proclaiming “the league is ours, the future too".

Crowds increased as the buses headed along their route, to the main square, Plaza Catalunya, and then on towards the Arc.

In front of the two players’ buses, another bus pumping out pop songs to set the mood led the way, cutting through streets filled with blue and red smoke.

Fans stood on balconies waving flags, while others clambered on top of bus stop shelters to get a better view.

Words from the players:

“You can see the fans are very excited about it and obviously we are too," goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen told club television.

“It’s a pride to share this with them and have them closer than ever."

“We say to the fans that we are celebrating today, but that we have a lot of our minds focused on Eindhoven and that we will give everything and more to make them proud," two-time women’s Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas told Barca TV.

Words from the fans:

“I’m certain of my hope for the men’s team (next season), for them to give a good account of themselves in Europe," supporter Laura Nieto, 37, from nearby Terrassa told AFP.

“That they don’t do a bad job against big opponents is what’s been happening. And for the women, for them to continue like this — which is unstoppable."

Some supporters chanted Paris Saint-Germain playmaker Lionel Messi’s name, hopeful that Barcelona can bring him “home" this summer at the end of his contract in France.

Others were more torn by the idea of Messi returning, despite president Joan Laporta pledging the club would “do everything" to sign him.

“On one hand I would like it because it would bring back a lot of excitement," said Anabel Sanz, 16.

“But on the other, I think not, because it would mean rebuilding the team again and in the long run, that would hurt us, it would not be good."