Here are five memorable finishes to the La Liga season in years gone by:
April 26, 1981
With Real Sociedad losing at Sporting Gijon, Real Madrid thought they had won the league by defeating Real Valladolid and were already celebrating. But the game in Gijon was still going on and, in the pouring rain, Sociedad’s Jesus Maria Zamora scored an injury-time equaliser to give the Basques the title on goal average for the very first time.
June 7, 1992 & June 20, 1993
Tenerife might not be the most obvious team to deny Madrid’s title hopes, but that’s exactly what happened in consecutive years. The Canary Islanders twice defeated their mighty opponents on the final day, and on both occasions Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona ‘Dream Team’ took advantage, beating Athletic in 1992 and Real Sociedad a year later to become champions.
May 15, 1994
Deportivo had the chance to win the title for the first time in history when they faced Valencia at home. A tense game stayed goalless until the very last minute, when the hosts were awarded a penalty. But faced with a chance to claim the trophy, defender Miroslav Djukic had his spot-kick saved, allowing Barcelona to pip them to the post after a 5-2 home win over Sevilla.
June 17, 2007
Real Madrid, managed by Fabio Capello and with David Beckham in midfield, needed a home win against Mallorca to become champions. Mallorca stunned Los Blancos by taking the lead but Capello’s men fought back and levelled through sub Jose Antonio Reyes’s first touch. An own goal from Angelo Basinas and another Reyes goal secured victory and Real prevailed.
May 17, 2014
Atletico Madrid travelled to Barcelona knowing that a draw would be enough to secure the title, but second-placed Barca put themselves in pole position with a thunderbolt from Alexis Sanchez. Atletico rallied after the break and levelled through Diego Godin’s header. Lionel Messi had a goal wrongly ruled out for offside, but Atletico held on.