Click Here for AnswersBarcelona won their 19th Primera Liga title without kicking a ball on Saturday when Real Madrid lost 3-2 at Villarreal.
Two-time reigning champions Real Madrid relinquished their Primera Division crown to arch rivals Barcelona tonight after slumping to defeat at Villarreal.
Lying eight points behind pacesetters Barca with three games remaining, Madrid needed to win at El Madrigal to keep the title race alive - at least until Pep Guardiola's men met Real Mallorca tomorrow.
But goals from Robert Pires, Ruben Cani and Joan Capdevila cancelled out efforts from Madrid duo Rafael Van der Vaart and Gonzalo Higuain to give Villarreal a much-needed boost in their hunt for a Champions League spot and hand Barca the title.
Madrid found themselves trailing in the 16th minute. The 32-year-old Ariel Ibagaza created the chance as he made ground down the left before whipping in a cross, and the 35-year-old Pires finished the chance off with a thumping header from near the penalty spot.
With their already faint title hopes slipping further away, that goal seemed to knock the wind out of Madrid and they looked a side devoid of ideas for most of the remainder of the first half as Villarreal dominated proceedings.
Madrid coach Juande Ramos had seen enough and at half-time he replaced the ineffectual Klaas Jan Huntelaar with top scorer Gonzalo Higuain, and the move paid almost immediate dividends.
A deep cross from Miguel Torres picked out Higuain at the far post and the Argentinian's first-time pass across the face of goal allowed Van der Vaart the easiest of tap-ins as the Villarreal defence was nowhere to be seen.
However, the visitors could not build on that and the hosts re-took the lead in the 62nd minute through Cani.
Madrid centre-back Fabio Cannavaro's attempt at cutting out a cross saw the ball fall kindly into the Cani's path and the number 10 lashed a first-time shot past Casillas.
Ramos' men then gave themselves a lifeline when Higuain netted in the 88th minute.
Higuain looked to be standing well offside when he picked up Raul's half-blocked shot, but the flag stayed down and the young striker slotted past Lopez.
There was to be no fairytale finale for Madrid though as two minutes later Capdevila scored the goal that finally ended their title hopes.
Casillas made a mess of trying to catch Nihat's corner, and Capdevila could barely believe his luck as the ball dropped at his feet and all he had to do was poke it over the line.
Sevilla and Deportivo Coruna's European aspirations were dented when they were both held to draws by sides fighting to avoid relegation in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
Third-placed Sevilla were held to a 0-0 draw away to Osasuna with the Andalucians on the back foot for much of the game.
Both sides hit the crossbar and after Sevilla had Ndri Romaric sent off near the end, Osasuna defender Sergio Fernandez soon followed.
Sevilla move five points clear of fourth on to 64 points in their bid to secure the third automatic Champions League qualification place.
Later on Saturday, leaders Barcelona (86 points) could be crowned champions without kicking a ball if Real Madrid (78) fail to beat Villarreal at the Madrigal.
Barca do not visit Real Mallorca until Sunday.
Deportivo remain sixth with 57 points after their striker Ivan Riki scored a late equaliser against his former club Getafe for a 1-1 home draw.
Roberto Soldado had headed the visitors in front just after the restart.
Getafe are 14th with 38 points, one more than Osasuna and four above the relegation zone.
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