World Soccer

Bernat Armangue (AP)

Real Madrid came from behind with two goals in the last three minutes at Osasuna to retain the Primera Liga title in dramatic fashion with a 2-1 win.

“We are worthy champions and we fully deserve to win this title,” said Real coach Bernd Schuster.

Thousands of Real Madrid fans converged on the famous Cibeles fountain in the Spanish capital after the match to celebrate their team’s 31st league title.

After Villarreal’s win against Getafe, Madrid needed three points in Pamplona to claim the title on Sunday, but that looked unlikely when Francisco Punal put Osasuna ahead from the spot as late as the 83rd minute.

But Arjen Robben levelled things after 88 minutes and Gonzalo Higuain completed the turnaround a minute later with a fierce drive.

The victory was all the more remarkable as Madrid was forced to play the second half with 10 men after defender Fabio Cannavaro was dismissed within a minute of the restart.

It was the 31st league title for Madrid and makes up for its disappointing Champions League exit against Roma in the last 16.

Earlier, Villarreal took another big step towards securing second spot thanks to a 2-0 victory over Getafe.

Third-placed Barcelona ended its recent goal drought with a stunning 6-0 rout of Valencia.

Lionel Messi, Xavi and Thierry Henry all netted early on as the Catalans raced into a three-goal lead within 14 minutes.

Henry then added a fourth after the break and substitute Bojan Krkic bagged a pair late on as Frank Rijkaard’s side bounced back from the Champions League exit at the hands of Manchester United.

Source | Photo source | Tables | Fixtures

The Spanish league champions
1987-88: Real Madrid
1988-89: Real Madrid
1989-90: Real Madrid
1990-91: Barcelona
1991-92: Barcelona
1992-93: Barcelona
1993-94: Barcelona
1994-95: Real Madrid
1995-96: Atletico Madrid
1996-97: Real Madrid
1997-98: Barcelona
1998-99: Barcelona
1999-00: Deportivo La Coruna
2000-01: Real Madrid
2001-02: Valencia
2002-03: Real Madrid
2003-04: Valencia
2004-05: Barcelona
2005-06: Barcelona
2006-07: Real Madrid
2007-08: Real Madrid

Real Madrid: 31 league titles
Barcelona: 18
Atletico Madrid: 9
Athletic Bilbao: 8
Valencia: 6
Real Sociedad: 2
Real Betis: 1
Deportivo La Coruna: 1
Sevilla: 1

Factfile on Real Madrid

Founded: March 3, 1902
President: Ramon Calderon
Coach: Bernd Schuster (GER)
President: Ramon Calderon
Most league games: Manuel Sanchis (524)
Most league goals: Alfredo di Stefano (216)
Record signing: Zinedine Zidane ($66 million from Juventus in July 2001)
2007-08 top scorer: Raul 17
2007-08 most expensive signing: Arjen Robben (from Chelsea) 36 million euros.
Colours: All white
Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu since 1947. Capacity: 80,000.

Main players during the 2007-08 season: Iker Casillas - Sergio Ramos, Pepe Fabio Cannavaro, Gabriel Heinze (or Marcelo) - Mahamadou Diarra, Fernando Gago - Wesley Sneijder, Jose Maria ‘Guti’ Gutierrez (or Robinho) - Raul Gonzalez, Ruud van Nistelrooy. Also started more than 10 league matches: Julio Baptista, Arjen Robben, Miguel Torres.

Honours:

• Spanish League: 31 (1932, 1933, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008)
• Spanish Cup : 17 (1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1917, 1934, 1936, 1946, 1947, 1962, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1980, 1982, 1989, 1993)
• European Cup/Champions League: 9 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1966, 1998, 2000, 2002)
• UEFA Cup: 2 (1985, 1986)
• Intercontinental Cup/World Club Cup: 3 (1960, 1998, 2002)
• European SuperCup: 1 (2002)

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