Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Alvaro González, Colotto (Mattioni 84‘), Héctor Moreno; Arbilla, Javi López, Abraham (Paco Montañés 84‘), Víctor Sánchez, Víctor Alvarez; Caicedo (Stuani 64‘), Sergio García. 3-5-2.
Madrid: Keylor Navas; Dani Carvajal (Nacho 81’), Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; James, Kroos, Isco (Illarramendi 73‘); Bale, Benzema (Chicharito 63‘), Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Goals:
0-1. 59. Ronaldo. Ran on to Benzema pass and struck angled shot past Casilla.
1-1. 73. Stuani. Turned in Sergio García pass after Keylor Navas gave ball away.
1-2. 79. Marcelo. Picked up Ronaldo return pass and fired shot wide of keeper.
1-3. 83. Ronaldo. Steered shot past Casilla after Chicharito laid ball across area.
1-4. 91. Ronaldo. Got above marker to head James cross past keeper on far post.
Yellow cards: Caicedo 18’, Pepe 23’, Víctor Sánchez 55’, Carvajal 68’, Marcelo 74’, Keylor Navas 74’.
Second placed Real Madrid did the best they could on the next to last weekend of the season, a 1-4 win at Espanyol keeping their hopes alive until news of Barcelona’s victory at the Calderón stadium came through. With Ancelotti suspended, Hierro took charge of the side, but they made little inroad in the first half, the best chance a header by Cristiano Ronaldo into the side netting. Abraham tested Keylor Navas (given a run out instead of Iker Casillas) and Arbilla and Sergio García went close either side of half time, but with just under an hour gone Ronaldo picked up Benzema’s pass to fire the opener past Kiko Casilla. Only a last gasp tackle by Dani Carvajal prevented Víctor Sánchez from scoring at the other end however, and soon afterwards Navas dallied too long on a Pepe back pass, losing the ball to Stuani. Varane chased back to tackle the striker, but Sergio García picked up the rebound and passed across for Stuani to level the scores. Five minutes later though Madrid were back in front after Marcelo picked up Ronaldo’s return pass to beat Casilla, and only a great save by the local keeper prevented Bale from increasing the lead. Soon afterwards Ronaldo did make it three though after Chicharito managed to hook a pass across to him following a quick counter-attack, and with the game coming to a close Ronaldo completed yet another hat-trick with a far post header from a James cross. It was all in vain in the end though, and after losing to Juventus in their Champions League semi-final midweek, Madrid end the season without a trophy.