I remained optimistic for Barcelona to win this year. However, it seems as though fate had other ideas. Frank Rijkaard and his men won their match against Gimnastic FC in ecstatic fashion, 5-1 being the scoreline in Barcelona’s favour. However, more importantly, the other half of Barca’s La Liga hopes rested with the match Real Madrid had with Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu, the home ground for Real. Unfortunately for Barca fans, it was not to be with a 3-1 win for Real, not after a early scare for the Santiago Bernabeu faithful. Sevilla also was also in the hunt for the title, but as expected neither Real or Barcelona slipped up.

Steps Leading To End Of La Liga (Source: FC Barcelona)

Below is how the night evolved for the top three:

• 21:15 Varela gives Mallorca the lead in the Santiago Bernabeu (0-1), and Barça take the lead in the Liga by one point.
• 21:20 Puyol’s goal gives Barça a three point lead with 76 points.
• 21:34 Messi scores in the Nou Estadi following a great individual effort from the edge of the box.
• 21:37 Ronaldinho shoots over the wall to bag Barça’s third goal of the night.
• 21:50 Half time results: Real Madrid, 0 - Mallorca, 1; Nastic, 0 - FC Barcelona, 3 y Sevilla, 0 - Villarreal, 0.
• 22:05 Messi scores his second goal from one metre out following great work from Eto’o.
• 22:06 Villareal take the lead againbst Sevilla with a goal from Fuentes.
• 22:23 Reyes, who came on for Beckam, ties the game in Madrid.
• 22:37 Diarra, heads the ball in to give Madrid a crucial lead in the Santiago Bernabéu (2-1). Madrid take the lead at the top thanks to head to head goal difference.
• 22:39 A potent shot from outside the area gives Madrid an unassailable lead over Mallorca (3-1).
• 22:38 Grahn scores a consolation goal for Nastic.
• 22:45 Zambrotta rounds off a good performance by scoring Barça’s fifth in time added on.
• 22:50 Results in: Real Madrid, 3 - Mallorca, 1; Nàstic, 1 - FC Barcelona, 5 y Sevilla, 0 - Vila-real, 1. Madrid and Barça secure passage to the Champions League

Let’s Look At The Ronaldinho Goal

Another trademark Ronaldinho set piece. Curl over the wall and into the corner. In this one the keeper gets his hand to it however, there is too much on the shot. This goal seems irrelevant to the big picture but I enjoyed watching it. In addition I have added the Lionel Messi goal that put Barca up by 2 goals. This is a real gem and I truly believe Messi has no where to go but to the top, not for another 2 years I’d say. So here are both goals. On a sign off note for this post, I truly am saddened by the loss that we have suffered, but all we can do now is hope that Ronaldinho rests well and trains hard for next year, as he will not be playing with Brazil in the Copa Del Ray. All the best to him and Rijkaard who will now need to reflect on this loss and possible counter measures for next year. For now enjoy the videos.