Lionel Messi did it yet again, scoring the winning goal against Atletico Madrid to take FC Barcelona’s lead at the top to an unassailable 4 points with a game to play. Paris Saint-Germain won away against Montpellier to become Ligue 1 champions ahead of Lyon to continue their brilliant domestic form. Cristiano Ronaldo scored yet another hat-trick but in vain as Real’s win against Espanyol was rendered meaningless after cross-town rivals Atletico slumped against Barcelona. Manchester City secured 2nd place in the Premier League courtesy a brace by Yaya Toure against Swansea.
Photo: Denis Doyle
Last season, Atletico Madrid won the La Liga at the Camp Nou and this time it was Barcelona’s turn to return the favor. Barcelona deservedly secured the La Liga with a victory at the Vicente Calderon, as Barcelona clinched their 7th league title in 11 years, thanks to a solitary goal by Lionel Messi. The hosts defended resolutely as Barcelona enjoyed majority of the possession in the first-half but were unable to penetrate the Atleti defence. Atletico needed a win to secure third spot and automatic qualification into the Champions League but were in a tight spot, as their win would hand fierce rivals Real the chance to snatch the title from Barcelona’s hands. The ambivalent sentiments were apparent after a lacklustre first-half display by the Rojiblancos.
Photo: Denis Doyle
Barcelona finally broke the deadlock, largely against the run of play, as Messi played a deft one-two with Pedro in the 18-yards box, took a couple of nifty touches before nonchalantly caressing the ball past the outstretched Jan Oblak. There was no way Barcelona would let the hosts back in the game and after a scrappy final 20 minutes, Barcelona rejoiced as the La Liga title was returning to the Camp Nou after a year in Madrid. Luis Enrique is on the verge of a historic treble, with the Champions League final and Copa del Rey still to play.
Photo: Gonzalo Aroyyo Moreno
A second-half hat-trick from Cristiano Ronaldo inspired Real Madrid to a 4-1 win over Espanyol but it wasn’t enough to keep their slim title hopes alive, as Barcelona won against Atletico. Carlo Ancelotti watched the match from the stands after he was served a touchline ban for sarcastically clapping at an official’s decision against Valencia, and the Italian was a frustrated figure as Real were colorless in the first-half. Real regained their mojo in the second-half and although Espanyol equalised after Ronaldo’s opener, Marcelo restored his side’s lead. Keylor Navas made a horrifying error to hand the hosts the equaliser, as he was robbed off the ball while dribbling in the penalty-box. Ronaldo scored two late goals to take his tally for the season to 45 but the 3 points will mean little to Ancelotti and his men. Club president Florentino Perez will be furious after the club’s failures, especially since the New Year and questions regarding Ancelotti’s future will undoubtedly be the talk in Madrid.
Photo: Alex Caparros
Paris Saint-Germain won their 3rd straight Ligue 1 in comprehensive fashion with one game to spare. Manager Laurent Blanc was ecstatic after the triumph but the former-French international believes that there is still room for improvement. The Parisians now aim to be the first side to win a Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue and Coupe de France treble.
PSG missed Ibrahimovic, out with a calf injury, as they lacked the threatening potency up front but it didn’t matter, as two quickfire goals from Matuidi and Lavezzi secured a hard-fought 2-1 win. PSG won the Coupe de la Ligue last month with a crushing 4-0 win over Bastia and now, the champions face Ligue 2 outfit Auxerre in the Coupe de France final.
In the Premier League, Manchester City brushed past Swansea to win 2nd place, birthday boy Yaya Toure scoring a brace. Toure and Milner gave the Citizens the lead but goals from Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bafetimbi Gomis made matters level. Toure got his second when rifled a shot past Fabianski and former-Swans man Wilfried Bony finished things off with a smart finish. Manchester United and Arsenal battled out a draw as Tyler Blackett’s late own-goal handed the Gunners a precious point in the race for automatic Champions League qualification, after Ander Herrera had opened the scoring.
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In Russia and Portugal, Zenit St Petersburg and Benfica wrapped up their respective titles, to land places in Pot 1 of the Champions League much to the dismay of clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal. UEFA have changed the rules for the 2015-16 campaign, meaning that the champions from each of the top seven leagues, as per UEFA’s coefficient, will make up the top seeds, alongside the defending Champions League winners.
Photo: EPA
The main beneficiary of this new rule are PSV, who secured a place in Pot 1, as both Champions League finalists Juventus and Barcelona are champions of their respective leagues. As a result, PSV, champions of the 8th placed league – the Dutch Eredivisie, are top seeds of the Champions league next season. Due to this rule change, both Madrid sides, along with Porto and Arsenal are relegated to second seeds.
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Spanish side Sevilla along with Ukrainians Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk will contest in the Europa League final in Warsaw after defeating Fiorentina and Napoli respectively.
Tags: Barcelona La liga Lionel Messi
