Real Madrid take La Liga title
Pamplona, Spain, Real Madrid were able to hold off all challengers for the title of Spain’s top flight after beating Osasuna 2-1 in Pamplona on Sunday.
And they did it in dramatic fashion after being down a man, Fabio Cannavaro no less, and a goal after Patxi Punal converted from the spot with less than 10 minutes to go.
Real looked to be in serious trouble when Osasuna midfielder Patxi Punal struck home from the penalty spot after Gabriel Heinze had handled in the area with eight minutes to go.
But Dutch winger Arjen Robben equalised with three minutes to go, heading in after Gonzalo Higuain whipped a free kick into the area and the Argentine struck the winner when he lashed past Ricardo with a minute to go.
Next for Madrid lie the clubs fiercest rivals Barcelona who will be looking to spoil the celebrations next week at the Bernabeu.
Barcelona will have to ignore the taunts and celebrations going on around them when they visit newly crowned champions Real Madrid on Wednesday, seeking to secure automatic Champions League qualification.
Frank Rijkaard’s side will be required to applaud their arch-rivals on to the pitch at the Bernabeu after Real secured their 31st league title
This task will no doubt be a tough one for a Barcelona side that failed to live up to expectations heading into this season and were unable to put up much of a fight in the title chase. It would be interesting to see what the reaction in Spain would be if the Catalan giants were to react the same way Osasuna had in 1990 -
when the side (Real Madrid) traveled up to Navarre with John Toshack as manager and the league title already won the previous week. The home players failed to observe the traditional ‘pasillo’ (tunnel) accorded to the champions, and were roundly attacked in the national press for their anti-gesture.
I don’t think Barcelona would get out of Madrid if they were to shun tradition and the home side.
