Monday was all about Barcelona. And not just the football club, but the whole city.
Over 750,000 people were on the streets of Barcelona on Monday for the team's La Liga trophy parade. Just that number gives you an insight of what this title really means to people: not just to the ones who witnessed it from the stands of Camp Nou on Sunday night, but to an entire city which shared every single second of this season with Flick's boys.
The route
Starting from the Spotify Camp Nou at 17:00 CEST, the parade moved along the Travessera de les Corts up to Numancia, then via Carrer Bernil and Carrer Paris toward Balmes and Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes where it entered the city centre. Afterwards, the procession moved up Passeig de Gracia toward La Pedrera, which was the anticipated to be the most lively part of the parade.
Lewandowski and Szczesny steal the show
The two Poles were the main characters of the parade. While other players threw confetti with cannon, Lewandowski and Szczesny relaxed on the roof of the driving cabin and got themselves a small ice tub. Two of the most decorated footballers in world football were relaxing on top of a bus eating ice cream and pulling all kinds of stunts. Iconic parade energy.
Szczesny was constantly smiling, singing and dancing with the crowd and was seen carrying a red can which he jokingly waved toward the cameras to signal it was soft drink. In one of the key moments, the fans threw an unopened packet of cigarettes toward the bus and Szczesny caught it, checked it wasn't damaged before nonchalantly tucking it into his pocket much to the laughter of players on the bus.
Crowd chanted "Smoker Szczesny" as he continued to puff from a vape without any care. The man went from retirement in Marbella to 5 trophies with Barcelona in 2 years.
The two were seen bantering all parade long as Szczesny quipped to Lewandowski, "My title-winning percentage in league with Barca is 100%; I've won 2 of 2. Your percentage is 75% Lewy (3 of 4)". Lewandowski then responded, "My league title-winning percentage with Bayern was 100%".
Later, both of the Poles ducked as the bus passed under a tree, an image that will go down as one of the most iconic in the whole parade.
A very special day for Lewandowski who know will very probably be celebrating his last parade as a Barcelona player. He spent it on top of a bus, eating ice cream, dodging tree branches, and trading jokes with his best friend. If this is not the perfect send off, what is?
Yamal's moment
A still injured Lamine Yamal was seen waving a Palestinian flag from his seat on the top of the bus and drawing cheers from the delighted crowd. Although sidelined for weeks due to a hamstring injury, he came out to celebrate with the city and the image went viral across social media in seconds.
Lewandowski also proudly waved an estelada, the Catalan independence flag, and passed it among his teammates who also paraded it.
The rest of the cast
Casado took off his shirt, Raphinha celebrated with samba and Araujo had the crowd fired up as he screamed "Perico, tell me how it feels" at the top of his lungs. Every player offered a unique show for the fans.
What this trophy means
The Catalan giants lifted their 29th league trophy and have secured it with 14 points ahead of second-placed Madrid with three games still to spare. They have also positioned themselves to be the third team to break the 100-point mark in La Liga history if they win their final three matches.
Two league titles in two seasons under Flick. Won at the Clasico. Their first full league season back at the Spotify Camp Nou. Over 750,000 people in the streets on a Monday afternoon.
Some seasons just end, but this feels like it's only the start.
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