Lamentable scenes played out at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday night, as Espanyol fans invaded the pitch and tried to attack FC Barcelona players who fled to safety down the tunnel.

Barca's players were celebrating a 27th La Liga title win on their arch rival's turf, after beating them 4-2 in a match that was pretty much done and dusted after 53 minutes before the relegation-threatened hosts pulled back a pair of consolation goals.

Xavi Hernandez's players and staff held hands and danced near the center circle at the halfway line.

For some home fans, however, this proved too much. As shown in a clip shared by local broadcaster Movistar and ESPN's Samuel Marsden, a considerable number stormed the pitch and attempted to get at the Blaugrana.

This caused the traveling contingent to flee down the tunnel to safety, and Carrusel Deportivo reported that there were attempts from hooded men to get into the changing rooms and attack them with "bars, chairs, batons and other objects".

Security managed to block off the entrance to the tunnel and prevent a tragedy from happening.

As shown by Movistar, however, clashes between enraged Espanyol fans and the Catalan police known as the Mossos d'Esquadra continued.

A report from Madrid-based newspaper AS carried images of the police striking some pitch invaders, and a warning over the tannoy to "abandon the stadium or force will be used" was heeded.

Online, though, Spanish and Catalan media outlets and reports used words such as "horrible", "mad" and "disgraceful" to describe the original trouble.

"No matter where you look at it from, it is very sad that this is seen on the field. Regrettable and shameful," tweeted Movistar's Ricardo Rosety.

Next week, we will perhaps learn if Espanyol will be punished for the incident with a fine and being forced to play one or more of their remaining matches behind closed doors.