Barcelona complete hat-trick

Football Spanish League

Barca have 92 points with two matches left, six ahead of second-placed Real Madrid who beat Getafe 4-0 on Tuesday, and Pep Guardiola's side hold the advantage in games between the two sides.

Seydou Keita headed the visitors in front after 28 minutes but a terrible mix-up between defender Gerard Pique and ’keeper Victor Valdes led to Felipe Caicedo equalising just before halftime.

A far from comfortable Barca held on for a point and can now focus on the Champions League final against Manchester United at Wembley on May 28. “This isn't about today, it is about nine months of hard work, emotions and suffering. We deserved it today,” striker David Villa said.

Winning the title at the Ciutat de Valencia was particularly significant as it was where former coach Frank Rijkaard landed his first crown with Barca in 2005.

A 1-1 draw at Levante ended six trophyless years for the club that season and set in motion a cycle of success which Guardiola built on when he replaced the Dutchman in 2008.

Barca have now won five of the last seven Spanish championships. The 40-year-old Guardiola, in his first top-flight coaching role, has picked up nine trophies in three years including three league titles, one European Cup and one King's Cup.

There was also high drama at the bottom of the standings, where 19th-placed Hercules (34 points) let slip a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home Real Mallorca and were relegated.

Real Zaragoza occupy the last relegation slot in 18th with 39 points, one behind Getafe and safety, after conceding a last-minute goal to lose 2-1 at Real Sociedad.

Osasuna pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Sevilla 3-2 with breakaway goals from Kike Sola and Dejan Lekic in the last five minutes and they climbed to 14th on 44 points.
Valencia's 2-2 draw with Espanyol and Villarreal's 0-0 draw with Almeria meant there was no change in the race for the European places.

Valencia are third with 67 points and Villarreal fourth with 62 in the Champions League qualification spots, while Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid occupy the three Europa League slots after all three lost.

As the minutes ticked down Barca's substitutes lined up arm in arm on the touchline while their colleagues kept possession and when the referee blew for time they all raced on to the pitch to celebrate in a huddle.