Barcelona celebrate fifth European Cup with parade for fans

Barcelona: Thousands of Barcelona's fans flocked to the city center on Sunday to celebrate with their team a day after they won their fifth European Cup and completed a historic treble of titles.

Having already won the Spanish league and Copa del Rey trophies, Barcelona became the first team to complete a sweep of the Champions League and their two main domestic competitions in the same season on two separate occasions. Barcelona first achieved the rare feat in 2009.

Festivities ran through the night as thousands of Barcelona fans gathered near the city's main square after the team's 3-1 victory over Juventus.

On their return from Berlin, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta carried the large, elephant-eared trophy down the steps from Barcelona's chartered plane at El Prat airport.

Lionel Messi and the rest of Barcelona's talented team were then whisked to an open-top bus, which paraded them through the Catalan capital.

The three trophies won this season sat on the top of the bus with the players and coaching staff, who ate pizza before setting off on the slow trip through the city under the late afternoon sun. They waved, took photos and shot confetti into the crowd lining the streets.

The team was scheduled to continue the party at the Camp Nou. The club said the 67,000 free tickets for the event have already been snatched up.

On Saturday, Barcelona beat Juventus on goals from Ivan Rakitic, Luis Suarez and Neymar, with Alvaro Morata scoring from the Italian champions.

Barcelona, who last year failed to win a major title for the first time in six seasons, have returned to the summit of European football under first-year coach Luis Enrique. They have now won Europe's top-tier competition four times in the past decade.

Sunday's headline for Madrid-based sports paper AS said "Era Renewed," while Barcelona-based sports dailies El Mundo Deportivo and Sport both splashed "TriChampions" across their front pages.

Barcelona's bus was decked out in the club's burgundy and blue colors, a massive photo of the team and the motto "Champions. A second treble. We continue making history."

Xavi began the parade propped on the back edge of the bus with a red-and-yellow Catalan flag draped over his shoulders. After 17 seasons, the 35-year-old midfielder is leaving Barcelona with a club record of 25 titles and 767 appearances, and a Champions League milestone of 151 appearances.