First Division - Day 36

Villarreal 3 - Real Madrid 2

Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila; Cani, Eguren, Ibagaza (Bruno 51'), Pires (Mati Fernández 82'); Llorente (Nihat 71'), Rossi. 4-4-2.
Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Miguel Torres (Drenthe 73'); Robben, Javi García, Lass, Van der Vaart (Dani Parejo 73'); Huntelaar (Higuaín 46'), Raúl. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: No change / Madrid: Miguel Torres, Lass, Van der Vaart, Huntelaar for Metzelder, Gago, Marcelo, Higuaín.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Pires. Guided header back past Casillas from Ibagaza's long cross.
1-1. 46. Van der Vaart. From close up after Higuaín laid back Torres centre.
2-1. 63. Cani. Blasted shot past keeper after Cannavaro cut out Javi Venta cross.
2-2. 88. Higuaín. Picked up deflected shot and forced ball past Diego López.
3-2. 90. Capdevila. Turned ball in on far post after Casillas dropped corner.

Yellow cards: Javi García 03', Sergio Ramos 26', Capdevila 90', Raúl 92'.

Second placed Real Madrid lost 3-2 at Villarreal on Saturday night, a result which means that Barcelona are mathematically confirmed as league champions. The win also takes Villarreal level with Valencia pending their game on Sunday.

Pires headed the locals in to the lead from Ibagaza's cross early on, but Van der Vaart equalised just a minute in to the second half after Higuaín laid across a long ball from Miguel Torres.

Cani restored the lead though after Cannavaro could only clear a Javi Venta cross in to his path, and Nihat had a goal disallowed for a borderline offside soon afterwards.

Higuaín levelled the scores again however with two minutes to go when Sergio Ramos's shot was deflected to him in a possible offside position, but a couple of minutes later Casillas dropped Nihat's corner at the feet of Capdevila, and Barça were sure of their title.