Real win 30th title in dramatic finale
Real Madrid ended their four-year trophy drought when they won the league title for the 30th time after a dramatic 3-1 comeback victory over Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Substitute Jose Reyes Antonio was Real's hero, equalising a minute after coming on in the second half and putting the icing on the cake with a spectacular third seven minutes from time.
The nine-times European champions topped the final standings by virtue of a better head-to-head record against arch-rivals Barcelona, whose 5-1 victory at already relegated Gimnastic Tarragona was to no avail.
For over an hour the title looked to have slipped from Real's grasp as they trailed to a 17th-minute strike from Mallorca's Fernando Varela, while Barca overpowered Gimnastic.
But Real produced their customary late show, including a headed goal by Mahamadou Diarra, to storm back to victory and snatch the title from Barcelona's grasp.
"This team has recovered its spirit, this was a fantastic victory," Real coach Fabio Capello told reporters.
The match marked the final appearances of David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, who signed off with a championship medal in front of 76,000 adoring fans at the Bernabeu.
Mallorca gave Real an almighty scare with barely a minute on the clock when striker Juan Arango hit the base of the post with a low shot after stealing a march on defender Sergio Ramos.
Real paid the price for their shaky start soon after when Varela put Mallorca in front with a low shot past Iker Casillas after Arango slid a perfect pass behind the static back four.
The Mallorca goal meant Barca were top of the table and the Catalans consolidated their advantage when they went a goal up after Carles Puyol slid the ball home at the near post after Lionel Messi had squared a neat pass into his path.
Real suffered another setback when leading scorer Ruud van Nistelrooy was forced off in the 32nd minute after appearing to pull a hamstring as he ran towards goal.
Barcelona, meanwhile, went 3-0 up by the break with goals from Messi and Ronaldinho.
Real struggled to respond at the Bernabeu and the restless crowd called on Fabio Capello to introduce playmaker Guti to give the side more control in midfield.
Capello did just that at the start of the second half but his side continued to live dangerously with a succession of last-ditch tackles stopping Mallorca adding to their lead.
The game was turned on its head shortly after Reyes replaced Beckham, who limped off midway through the second half.
The former Arsenal player equalised a minute later when he fired in from close range after some dazzling footwork by Robinho and Gonzalo Higuain on the right side of the area.
The Bernabeu burst into life after Reyes's goal and Real were back on top of the table 12 minutes later when Diarra, called back from international duty with Mali, sent a header bouncing off Mallorca's Angelos Basinas and across the line.
Reyes made sure of victory four minutes later with a great strike from the edge of the area to spark wild celebrations at the Bernabeu as Madrid finished on 76 points from 38 matches to snatch the Primera Liga title from Barcelona.
Earlier Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo were relegated from the Primera Liga after a heart-stopping final round of games on Sunday.
Sociedad dropped out of the top flight for the first time in 40 years after drawing 3-3 at Valencia while Hristo Stoichkov's Celta will join them in the second division despite a 2-1 victory at home to Getafe.
Real Betis avoided the drop thanks to a 2-0 win at Racing Santander, both goals coming from Brazilian forward Edu in the last 10 minutes, while Athletic Bilbao were saved from their first relegation after a 2-0 win at home to Levante.
Already-relegated Gimnastic Tarragona will end the season at the bottom of the standings no matter what happens in their late match at home to Barcelona.
Real Sociedad finished the season with 35 points and Celta on 39, one behind Athletic Bilbao and Betis.
Celta looked to have escaped the drop when they came from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead over Getafe after Argentine defender Matias Lequi steered in a header at the near post following a free kick in the 67th minute.
But their hopes of survival were dashed by Brazilian forward Edu who scored two late goals to earn Betis their win at Racing Santander.
Betis discarded coach Luis Fernandez after last weekend's 5-0 defeat at home to Osasuna and former reserve team coach Paco Chaparro was in charge for their final game of the season.
Sociedad had to win and hope their rivals slipped up but although they took the lead after just two minutes they ended up scoring two own goals as they drew 3-3 at Valencia.
Fellow Basque side Athletic Bilbao have never been out of the top division in their 109-year history but they had an anxious time against Levante.
A series of brilliant reflex saves by Jose Molina kept Athletic at bay in the first half but the Levante keeper was final beaten when defender Jose Manuel Serrano turned an Aritz Aduriz cross into his own net on the hour.
The fears of the 40,000 fans crammed into San Mames were finally laid to rest when Igor Gabilondo put Bilbao 2-0 up with a far-post header 13 minutes from time.
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