Barcelona won the Spanish league title for the first time in three years on Saturday. Barcelona's eight-point advantage became unassailable in the standings when its closest rival Real Madrid lost 3-2 at Villarreal.
Robert Pires, Ruben "Cani" Gracia and Joan Capdevila scored for Villarreal to sentence Madrid to its third straight defeat and leave the team to suffer its first trophyless season since 2005-06. Rafael van der Vaart and Gonzalo Higuain replied for last season's champion.
"The league is the fairest competition and a test of consistency and I think Barcelona deserved to win it," Madrid coach Juande Ramos said. Barcelona, which plays at Mallorca on Sunday, has 86 points with three games left, while Madrid has 78 with two to play.
The 19th title in Barcelona's history was a triumph for 38-year-old coach Pep Guardiola, the club's former midfielder who was in his first season in charge. Barcelona president Joan Laporta told the club's TV station that "reality had exceeded expectations." "In footballing terms, it is one of the best seasons in Barcelona's history, in terms of play, titles and the general state of the club," Laporta said.
The title success completed Barcelona's first domestic double for 11 years. The team won the Copa del Rey last Wednesday. "There are now five doubles in the history of the club and it's something which is marvelous and fabulous, an excellent moment for people to enjoy quietly and calmly," Laporta added.
Over 40,000 Barcelona supporters gathered to celebrate at Canaletes fountain on Las Ramblas, the traditional site for celebrating the club's wins, news agency Europa Press said. Some lit fireworks waved flags and scarves, and drank from bottles of cava.
Guardiola's team plays Manchester United in the Champions League final on May 27 and is aiming to become the first Spanish team to win the three trophies in a single season. Madrid, which had conceded nine goals in its previous two losses, fell behind in the 17th minute when Pires beat goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a looping header from Ariel Ibagaza's left cross.
The visitors levelled at the start of the second half with Van der Vaart scoring from close range from substitute Higuain's pass. Midfielder Cani restored Villarreal's lead in the 62nd, seizing on a mistake by Fabio Cannavaro in the penalty area and firing home. Higuain equalised in the 88th from what appeared to be an offside position, only for Capdevila to win the game after Casillas dropped a corner kick.
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