On Sunday evening, the 2016-17 season of the Spanish "La Liga" championships ended, revealing the new champion.
Madrid's "Real" club fought for the title against "Malaga." Zinedine Zidane's players did not miss the golden opportunity - they won 2-0 against the home team and regained the title of Spanish champions after a five-year break.
In these matches, the "Whites" only needed not to lose in order to secure the title in their hands. The capital team started the match very successfully - already in the 2nd minute after Isco's pass, Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored from his hands, put "Real" ahead.
During the remaining first half, "Malaga" showed some strength and played quite dangerously near Keylor Navas's guarded goal.
The "Real" team avoided the equalizing goal, and by the 55th minute, took a solid step towards the title - Karim Benzema, completely free in the penalty area, received the ball and increased the away team's lead to two goals with a precise shot.
No more goals were scored in this match, and "Real" not only celebrated the victory in the last match of the season but also the title of champions in Spain.
The last time the "Real" team triumphed in the "La Liga" championships was in the 2011-12 season. This Spanish champions title is now the 33rd for the "Whites."
At the same time, "Barcelona," fighting on their own stadium, almost did not finish the season with an unexpected loss. For "Barca," winning the title was very difficult - they needed to win themselves and wait for the "Real" team's misfortune.
Without receiving gifts from "Real," the Catalan team won 4-2 against "Eibar" after a tough fight. The visitors led 2-0 after Takashi Inui's double, but two accurate goals by Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and an own goal by the opponent ensured victory for the hosts.
The remaining matches ended with "Atletico" triumphing at the Vicente Calderon stadium, "Celta" and "Real Sociedad" drawing, and "Villarreal" winning against "Valencia."
Main statistics of the 2016-17 season:
- Qualified for the Champions League: "Real Madrid," "Barcelona," "Atletico," "Sevilla" (qualification)
- Qualified for the Europa League: "Villarreal," "Real Sociedad" (qualification)
- Relegated from the league: "Granada," "Osasuna," "Gijon"
Top scorers: Lionel Messi ("Barcelona" | 37), Luis Suarez ("Barcelona" | 29), Cristiano Ronaldo ("Real" | 25)
Most assists: Luis Suarez ("Barcelona" | 13), Toni Kroos ("Real" | 12), Neymar ("Barcelona" | 11)
Results:
"Malaga" 0 - 2 "Real Madrid"
2' [0 - 1] C. Ronaldo
55' [0 - 2] K. Benzema
"Barcelona" 4 - 2 "Eibar"
7' [0 - 1] T. Inui
61' [0 - 2] T. Inui
63' [1 - 2] D. Junca (own goal)
73' [2 - 2] L. Suarez
76' [3 - 2] L. Messi (penalty kick)
90+2' [4 - 2] L. Messi
69' L. Messi ("Barcelona") missed a penalty kick
74' A. Capa ("Eibar") sent off from the field
"Valencia" 1 - 3 "Villarreal"
1' [0 - 1] R. Soldado
54' [1 - 1] Nani
58' [1 - 2] M. Trigueros
88' [1 - 3] N. Sansone
"Celta" 2 - 2 "Real Sociedad"
54' [1 - 0] I. Aspas (penalty kick)
82' [1 - 1] M. Oyarzabal
90' [2 - 1] A. Hjusager
90+4' [2 - 2] Juanmi
"Atletico" 3 - 1 "Athletic Bilbao"
8' [1 - 0] F. Torres
11' [2 - 0] F. Torres
71' [2 - 1] I. Williams
89' [3 - 1] A. Correa
League table:
