Soccer-Talking points from European soccer

But they still had something to smile about a day later when Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 against VfB Stuttgart, meaning Freiburg were certain of at least a fifth-place finish and Europa League action next season for the second consecutive year. In one of the tightest races for a top-four finish, RB Leipzig are third on 60 points, one ahead of Union.

Talking points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: BARCELONA CLINCH 27th LALIGA TITLE

Thousands of Barca fans celebrated wildly as their side won their 27th LaLiga title and first for four years on Sunday after thrashing city rivals Espanyol 4-2. A brace by LaLiga top goalscorer Robert Lewandowski in the first-half paved the way for Barca to clinch the title with four games spare as they moved to 85 points from 34 matches and extended their lead at the summit to an unassailable 14 points over second-placed Real Madrid, who have turned their attentions to their Champions League semi-final clash against Manchester City.

Barca fans started to gather around the Canaletes fountain on the Rambla boulevard in the city centre right after fulltime, although they will have to wait until Saturday to see their captain Sergio Busquets lift the LaLiga trophy when they host fourth-placed Real Sociedad in front of their jubilant supporters who will pack out their Camp Nou stadium. FREIBURG BOOK EUROPA LEAGUE SPOT

Freiburg suffered a painful 4-2 loss to Union Berlin on Saturday in their battle for a top-four finish and a Champions League spot, leaving them in fifth place with two games left to play. But they still had something to smile about a day later when Bayer Leverkusen drew 1-1 against VfB Stuttgart, meaning Freiburg were certain of at least a fifth-place finish and Europa League action next season for the second consecutive year.

In one of the tightest races for a top-four finish, RB Leipzig are third on 60 points, one ahead of Union. BELGIAN TITLE RACE DOWN TO THREE

Royal Antwerp scored with virtually the last kick of the match to complete a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 win over Club Brugge and stay on course for their first Belgian title in 66 years. But Union Saint Gilloise, whose last title success was in 1935, are only one point behind after a 3-0 victory over Racing Genk in Sunday's other match in the championship round.

The top four finishers in the regular season are playing each other in a post-season mini league to settle the championship. Defending champions Brugge were 2-0 up but fell out of contention after allowing Antwerp to come back with Arthur Vermeeren stabbing the ball home from a corner for the winner in the eighth minute of stoppage time at the end of the game.

TAINTED RAINBOW IN LIGUE 1 Some Ligue 1 players refused to wear rainbow-coloured numbers on their shirts ahead of Wednesday's International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.

Several Toulouse players were withdrawn from the squad for Sunday's Ligue 1 game against Nantes after they refused to have their names associated with a league-wide gesture of support against homophobia. Among them was Morocco defender Zakaria Aboukhlal, who wrote on Twitter: "Respect is a value that I hold in great esteem. It extends to others, but it also encompasses respect for my own personal beliefs. Hence, I don't believe I am the most suitable person to participate in this campaign."

Stade Brestois coach Eric Roy then made a comment that drew widespread criticism on social media. "The programming of this day against homophobia is catastrophic," Roy said after 15th-placed Brest beat fellow strugglers AJ Auxerre on Sunday.

"You can see that there are players who have a problem with it. Everyone is free to express their opinions. Personally, I have no problem with it. But there are players who may have a problem with it. "Then you should not schedule this campaign at that time when you know some players are fighting to avoid relegation. You could do it in December, September."

JUVE CLOSE IN ON CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BUT LOSE POGBA Juventus closed in on a spot in next season's Champions League after their 2-0 home win over Cremonese increased their advantage over fifth-placed AC Milan to eight points.

Yet they lost midfielder Paul Pogba to another injury that will disappoint coach Massimiliano Allegri. Pogba started his first game in over a year on Sunday, having accumulated less than 160 minutes for Juventus this season coming off the bench, after a knee injury kept him sidelined for months.

The injury also ruled him out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was followed by a thigh issue earlier this year.

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