New Delhi: Villarreal scored a late winner to clinch the three points in a dramatic match at El Madrigal, allowing Barcelona to celebrate winning the title in the process.
Villarreal lined up largely as expected, with last week's successful pairing of Giuseppe Rossi and Joseba Llorente up front.
Juande Ramos, meanwhile, sprung something of a surprise by leaving Gonzalo Higuain on the bench, while Gabriel Heinze slotted into central defence, with Miguel Torres on the left.
First Half
Both sides entered the game knowing that only a win would suffice, and the intent to attack was apparent from both camps. A misplaced header from Gonzalo nearly floated over his keeper's head in the early stages, while Gabriel Heinze also missed a decent chance to open the scoring, heading far wide from a corner. Up the other end, Iker Casillas was lucky to see his clearance rebound wide off Rossi's back, while the Italian was later denied by a fine sliding tackle from Heinze, just as he was about to shoot.
There was no shortage of chances, as Van Der Vaart then came close with a free-kick that Diego Lopez had to save low down to his left. A goal was forthcoming, and unfortunately for the visitors, it was Robert Pires who produced it. Ibagaza crossed the ball in from the left, and it was typically lackluster defending from Real Madrid, as Pires was left open to head powerfully into the bottom right corner from the six yard box.
The game calmed down somewhat after the goal, with Real Madrid looking deflated in attack, despite enjoying plenty of possession. Villarreal appeared content to sit back and play on the counter, as they were certainly being afforded plenty of space. Still, the game almost came to a standstill until the 42nd minute, when Rossi broke and tested Casillas with a fierce shot from the left.
Thus a half that started at a frantic pace ended in uninspiring fashion, as Villarreal went in ahead, and looking comfortable.
Second Half
Juande Ramos made an immediate change at half-time, taking Klaas-Jan Huntelaar off for Gonzalo Higuain. The Argentine has arguably been Los Merengues' best player this season, and he made an instant impact, squaring the ball for Van Der Vaart from the right after being found by Miguel Torres. The Dutch midfielder was then left with an empty net, and he duly slotted home.
The goal certainly opened the game up, and Cani released Llorente down the right, but he shot straight at Casillas. On 50 minutes, Manuel Pellegrini made his first change, introducing Bruno for Ibagaza. The nerves were apparent on both sides as the game turned into a scrappy affair, with neither side too confident of pushing forward, lest they concede another.
On the hour mark, Joan Capdevila was played in by Rossi on the left, but his fierce shot was straight at Casillas. There were plenty of long shots flying in, without any of them truly threatening. Moments later though, Cani scored the goal that put Villarreal back in front. Real Madrid failed to clear Javi Venta's cross, and the ball fell kindly for Cani, who rifled the shot in at the near post, leaving Casillas with no chance.
Real Madrid looked stunned, and the Yellow Submarines nearly increased their lead moments later, when Gonzalo met Rossi's free-kick from the right from point blank range, but the ball flashed off him onto the crossbar. With twenty minutes remaining, Pellegrini introduced Nihat for Llorente. Juande Ramos, meanwhile, brought Royston Drenthe and Dani Parejo on for Torres and Van Der Vaart.
Try as they might, Real Madrid did not look to have the energy to mount any sort of comeback. With eight minutes left, Pires left to a standing ovation, to be replaced by Mati Fernandez. To make matters worse for the visitors, Raul was clearly struggling with an injury, but was unable to come off due to three substitutions already being made. Nihat then slotted home under Casillas, but was correctly adjudged to have been offside.
The linesman correctly denied Villarreal on that occasion, and his opposite number on the other side then really rubbed salt into their wounds, making a shocking decision to allow Madrid to equalize. The ball was played in to three players who were all miles offside, but somehow Higuain's finish was allowed to stand. The through ball did take a slight deflection off a defender, but it was still a horrendous decision.
The Madrigal was incensed, but there was still more drama to come, and this time, it went the home side's way. The corner came in from the left, and somehow, Casillas dropped a routine ball at the feet of Capdevila, who duly smashed it home, inciting wild celebrations all around the ground. It was the final action in an incredible game, that was yet another glowing advertisement for Spanish football.
Barcelona, therefore, are now officialy champions of Spain, while Villarreal move level with Valencia, and crucially, have the better head to head record. As for Real Madrid, their season is now well and truly over, and it has been one to forget.
Villarreal 3-2 Real Madrid
Pires 16 Van Der Vaart 46
Cani 62 Higuain 87
Capdevila 90
Villarreal: Diego Lopez - Javi Venta, Godin, Gonzalo, Capdevila - Eguren, Cani, Pires (Mati Fernandez 82), Ibagaza (Bruno 51) - Llorente (Nihat 71), Rossi
Real Madrid: Casillas - Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Miguel Torres (Drenthe 74) - Diarra, Javi Garcia, Van Der Vaart (Parejo 74) - Robben, Raul, Huntelaar (Higuain 45)
Yellow Cards: Javi Garcia 3, Sergio Ramos 26, Capdevila 89, Raul 92
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