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Lionel Messi fires Barcelona to La Liga title as Real Madrid go down fighting
BARCELONA secured their 23rd La Liga title with a game to spare when Lionel Messi struck to secure a 1-0 win at Atletico Madrid.
Lionel Messi fires Barcelona to La Liga title
Four points behind before kick-off, second-place Real Madrid breathed life into the title race by taking the lead at Espanyol through Cristiano Ronaldo while Barca were still struggling to break through at the Vicente Calderon.
Messi then scored to render Real's result irrelevant, and Los Blancos had to restore their lead through a Marcelo strike and two more Ronaldo goals after Christian Stuani managed to level for Espanyol.
Real Madrid miss out on La Liga title despite Cristiano Ronaldo's best efforts
It finished 4-1 at El Prat, but Real's challenge was over with one match of the season remaining.
Treble-chasing Barca also through to the Champions League final on June 6 to face Juventus and will play Athletic Bilbao in the King's Cup showpiece on May 30.