Karim Benzema’s scored twice and fired Real Madrid to their 34th La Liga title in a tight 2-1 victory over Villarreal at the Bernabeu.
The Frenchman’s powered a low strike past the legs of Asenjo in the 29th minute to put the hosts in control and Benzema extended Real’s lead by firing in a retaken penalty in the 76th minute at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.
The original spot-kick was taken by Sergio Ramos who elected to pass it to Benzema, who strayed into the box too early. The retaken penalty was then converted by Benzema low into the bottom-left corner of the net.
Substitute Vicente Iborra scored a powerful header late on for the visitors and substitute Marco Asensio had a goal cancelled by VAR in injury-time, but Real still emerged title winners as second-placed Barcelona lost 2-1 to Osasuna.
Madrid head into their final game with a commanding seven-point lead.
Real Madrid boss, Zinedine Zidane, says sealing a first La Liga title with Real Madrid in three years has made him happier than winning the Champions League.
“Today is one of the best days for me as a professional,” says Zidane. “After everything that happened, the three-month break, it is fantastic what has been achieved.”
La Liga titles have been in shorter supply than Champions League triumphs for Real this decade, with this only their third in the past nine seasons.
They won three successive European Cups in Zidane’s first tenure but had recorded successive third-place finishes since their previous domestic title, as Barcelona were crowned champions.
Zidane was in charge the last time they won the league and made it his aim to reclaim the title after returning midway through the last campaign – less than a year after his departure.
It looked as if the Frenchman’s side would fail to deliver on that objective when football in Spain was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic in March, with Barcelona top of the table.
But Real have been in scintillating form since the restart and did not look like losing after Benzema’s opener on Thursday. His second from the spot put the game beyond Villarreal’s reach, despite a nervy final few minutes.
In the end, Barcelona’s defeat by Osasuna made the victory a little more comfortable but no less significant for Zidane, who was hoisted into the air by his players.
Barcelona loses to 10-man Osasuna as Real lifts 34th La Liga
Barcelona captain Lionel Messi declares “things have to change” at the club as they lost their La Liga title on the night their 30-game unbeaten home run in the league came to an end in an interview after the game.
Winning would not have been enough to make any difference for Barca, as Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-1 to win the title.
Jose Arnaiz put Osasuna ahead before Messi levelled with a free-kick.
The visitors had Enric Gallego sent off for elbowing Clement Lenglet before Roberto Torres’ close-range winner.
Messi, who is La Liga’s top scorer on 23 goals with one game to go, said: “We didn’t expect to finish in this way, but it sums up the year for us.
“We are a weak team who can be beaten with enough intensity and enthusiasm.
“We have lost a lot of points which we shouldn’t have done. We have been very inconsistent.
“We need to be self-critical, starting with the players, but also across the entire club. We are Barcelona, and we are obliged to win every game.”
Full La Liga Matchday 37 results
Eibar 3 – 1 Real Valladolid
Athletic Bilbao 0 – 2 Leganes
Barcelona 1 – 2 Osasuna
Celta Vigo 2 – 3 Levante
Getafe 0 – 2 Atletico Madrid
Real Betis 1 – 2 Alaves
Real Madrid 2 – 1 Villarreal
Real Mallorca 1 – 2 Granada
Real Sociedad 0 – 0 Sevilla
Valencia 1 – 0 Espanyol
Barcelona lost lmaoo. No wonder Messi has been wailing
Only three years without a win and people thought they’ve not been doing well? When the expectations are beyond the roof. In any case, I’m happy for them.
Now we know the GOAT team in Spain. Not those frauds wearing red and blue.