Lionel Messi’s outstanding second-half goal gave Barcelona a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid, moving the Catalonians into an unassailable position at the top of La Liga and dethroning Diego Simeone’s side in the process.
Barcelona knew that a win of any kind at the Vicente Calderon would seal their 23rd league title but it took until midway through the second-half for them to make the breakthrough, through the most predictable source.
Playing a smart one-two with Pedro, Lionel Messi then rolled his foot over the ball before sending a precise low shot beyond Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo still had a part to play, tipping over a fierce strike from Jose Maria Gimenez to seal the win.
The result meant second-place Real Madrid, who won 4-1 at Espanyol, can no longer catch Barcelona as they are four points behind with just one game remaining.