Marcelino reveals if Villarreal will give Barcelona a guard of honour on Sunday | OneFootball

It’s been a couple of days since FC Barcelona officially clinched the La Liga title, sealing the crown with a 2–0 win over city rivals Espanyol. The celebrations that followed, including a vibrant open-bus parade through Catalunya, reflected the magnitude of what Hansi Flick and his squad have accomplished this season.

However, Flick’s squad doesn’t have much time to revel in glory as their next La Liga game is right around the corner. On Sunday, the Catalan club welcomes Villarreal to the Montjuic, and it promises to be a very interesting game.

Barcelona don’t have much left to play for this season, having wrapped up the title, but the same cannot be said about Villarreal. They are in the running for a Champions League spot, and a win over the Catalan side will all but ensure the same.

The Guard of Honour for Barcelona

The streets of Catalunya were bouncing last night. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Thus, it promises to be a very exciting game. Ahead of the game, the Yellow Submarine’s manager Marcelino was quizzed about whether his side would give Hansi Flick’s team the guard of honour ahead of the game, and here is what he said, as quoted by AS:

“We are going to do the guard of honour because I believe it is a show of respect, and on top of that, we must acknowledge how well they’ve done. And once we’ve done that guard of honour, we’ll compete and see if we can be in the same competition as them next season. That’s our dream and our goal. We know it’s going to be difficult, but we have to try.”

The tradition of giving a guard of honour in football is a symbolic gesture of respect and sportsmanship, typically reserved for teams that have secured a league title or major trophy before the end of the season. In this tradition, players from the opposing team line up in two rows and applaud the champions as they enter the pitch.

While not mandatory, it is seen as a classy and dignified way to acknowledge the achievements of a rival, regardless of on-field competition. The gesture underscores the spirit of fair play and mutual respect that lies at the heart of the sport, though it occasionally sparks debate, especially between fierce rivals.

Marcelino – A Class Act

Hansi Flick has done a brilliant job this season. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Marcelino has always been a class act as a manager, and it comes as no surprise to see him confirm that his team will indeed give Barcelona the guard of honour. Flick’s men have been the best team in Spain this season and deserve to be recognized.

But beyond the applause lies a game with real consequences for Villarreal, and Marcelino’s side won’t be there just to admire the trophy. Barcelona must be sharp, focused, and ready to honour their own title with the performance it deserves.

It will be a proud moment at the Montjuic (probably for the last time) as Barcelona step onto the pitch as La Liga champions. Let’s wait and see how the crowd welcomes them and how the game against Villarreal plays out.