We’re going to wrap this blog up now. We’ll have a match report and analysis to come, but in the meantime, you can see how Barca’s game with Granada unfolded:
Thanks for reading. Bye!
Well, it always looked like fantasy to hope Barcelona would slip up at Granada, but Real Madrid put in a dominant display here. Ronaldo scored twice, hit the woodwork twice, and Isco, Marcelo and Bale all went close in the second half. It could have been more, although Rober did miss a sitter for Depor with 20 minutes left. It was all rather anti-climactic, but there we go: such is football, I suppose.
Real wrap up second place, although they have the chance to win another Champions League in 10 days’ time against Atléti. If they play as they did today they’ll be tough to beat.
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Luis Suarez has finished the season with 40 goals. Madon!
Barcelona win La Liga title!
Well, Real finish with a 12th straight victory, but Barcelona have wrapped up a 3-0 victory at Granada, and the title is theirs. Congratulations to Luis Enrique and his team!
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Full-time: Deportivo 0-2 Real Madrid
That’s the whistle, and it’s official: Real finish second in La Liga.
90 min: Good defending from Sidnei to prevent the corner. We’re into stoppage time. Honestly, what’s the point?
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89 min: Oh well! Real did all they could, but they needed Granada to do what was probably beyond them. Zidane looks rueful.
87 min: Well, that’s that. Luis Suarez completes his hat-trick, Barcelona go 3-0 up at Granada, and the title will not be coming to Madrid. More here:
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85 min: Pletikosa had a pretty terrible World Cup two years ago, but he’s made some decent stops today, and he had to be down quickly to deny Marcelo again! Marcelo’s been eating his oatmeal: where does he get his energy from?!
83 min: Ack, Luis Alberto dallied when he should have shot, and the chance is lost. But Depor come again, and they force a corner on the left. It’s cleared, but Depor knock it back in, and then Sidnei is narked off when the linesman says he took the ball over the byline. I’m not sure he did.
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82 min: Pletikosa saves with his feet to deny Marcelo! Terrible defending by Fede Cartabia, and Marcelo poked it goalwards, but Pletikosa did well to save. Real have just perked up in these last 10 minutes or so: the substitutes have had an effect.
80 min: It looks like it’s Barca’s title, doesn’t it? Real have done so well to yank themselves back into contention, but it was always a tall order. Can Granada find two goals in the last 10 minutes?
79 min: Oh, that would have been a brilliant goal by Isco. Wonderful disguised pass to Benzema, and he went for the return cross, but his header was just wide. Football to savour from the bearded duo.
77 min: Great chance for James! Saved by Pletikosa, but it was flagged offside, and it wouldn’t have counted. James was all alone on the right side of the box, and he tried to place it past the Croatian keeper, but the accuracy was lacking. Actually, that was a poor decision: James was level.
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75 min: Double change for Depor: Oriol Riera is on for Fajr, and Borges replaces Mosquera. Also, that’s Bale’s day done: Jese is on in his place.
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74 min: So finally Depor are showing signs of life, and it really should be two-one. What a chance that was for Rober! Mosquera from long range, but it’s high.
72 min: What a save from Keylor Navas! Lucas Perez’s cross, and it was Rober, the substitute with a free header in the six-yard box! The Real defence went missing, and Rober was totally free, but he planted it at straight at Navas, who came up big and kept it out! Superb reactions, but, boy, Rober should have scored. That might even have been his first touch.
71 min: A bit more space now, and Pepe has to be watchful to stop Lucas Perez going beyond. Corner to Depor.
70 min: Great vision from Modric to find Carvajal in the penalty area with a round-the corner pass, but he can’t find the cross. First change for Depor: Arribas off, Rober on.
68 min: Oh, Bale did so well there to get away from Manuel Pablo, who simply grabbed on to his shirt – and then Arribas did the same! No call, however, and Bale raises a quizzical eyebrow.
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66 min: Real seem content with what they have. But they’re desperate for a goal in Granada. It’s still 2-0 to Barcelona, and Barry Glendenning has the latest:
64 min: Real repel the first ball, but then it’s played back in, and Sidnei goes close after a nice combination. He didn’t quite get hold of it, but it was deflected, and it’s another corner. This time it’s wasted. Gah!
62 min: Depor have been better since the break, but they haven’t really sliced Real open. But here’s a kick in a dangerous position after a needless clip from Carvajal, whose defending has been less than stellar today.
60 min: Isco is on for Kroos, and clean-cut German fair hair gives way to trendy Iberian scruff.
58 min: Depor showing slightly more ambition and intensity. And that’s a chance for Manuel Pablo, of all people! The right-back found himself free in the box, but his shot was miles over the bar. A shame.
Actually, Lucas Perez wanted a penalty just before, and he might have got it: he was the filling in a Carvajal-Pepe sandwich, and it looked as though Carvajal gave him a whack in the back! Not given, though.
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56 min: Great control and pass from Marcelo on the left flank, freeing Gareth Bale, but Arribas does well to come across and cover, and he wins the goal kick by knocking it against the Welshman.
Then Mosquera is booked for a tug on Casemiro. Slightly harsh, probably.
54 min: More good build-up from Fede Cartabia, but another disappointing cross. Goal kick.
52 min: No positive news from Barcelona, as far as Real Madrid are concerned. The intensity in this second period here is noticeably lacking. But then from nowhere, Lucas stings Keylor Navas’s fingers! The Costa Rican did well to get down and keep it out. Good play from striker and goalkeeper.
50 min: It all feels a bit flat here. The crowd is very quiet. James tries to embarrass Pletikosa from distance, but it’s down the goalie’s throat. Then Kroos trips Fede Cartabia and is booked.
48 min: This is better already from Deportivo. They were hopeless in the first half. But then Sidnei gives it away, and the air is let out of the balloon, so to speak.
47 min: Slightly uncertain defending from Carvajal, who concedes a corner. It’s Depor’s first. Taken short by Luis Alberto, but Real defend the second ball well, and it’s away from danger.
We're back!
46 min: Change for Real Madrid: James Rodriguez in for Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s got a week to prepare for the Champions League final, but also: the pichichi is Suarez’s.
Real Madrid were hugely impressive in that first half, but it’s all a bit anti-climactic, isn’t it? Let’s hope Depor and Granada can spice things up after the break, even if the chances of that happening are slim in the extreme.
I think I’m right in saying that as of now, Cristiano Ronaldo has 35 La Liga goals in the race for the pichichi, but Suarez has 39. How many does Tony Hibbert have?
So Real are holding up their end of the bargain, but Barcelona are winning by the same scoreline. As we stand, the title is staying in Catalonia.
Half-time: Deportivo 0-2 Real Madrid
Zero stoppage time, and that’s the whistle. Real well in control.
44 min: Oh, that could have been three! Ronaldo smacked it at the wall, then had another go, and the ball fell kindly for Casemiro, who lifted it over Pletikosa, but over the bar as well! That could have been the game.
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43 min: Free kick to Real Madrid about 32 yards from goal. Ronaldo’s very keen.
41 min: It’s been a wave of white attacking. Depor are really struggling. But Barca are in control at Granada, and Real are not getting the favour they need from the Andalusians.
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40 min: Anything Ronaldo can do …
39 min: Great play by Bale to go past two defenders on the left, but Mosquera is quickly across to cover.
38 min: Cartabia runs at Marcelo, but his cross is disappointing, and out of play for a goal kick.
37 min: First look in attack for Depor, and Fede Cartabia bends one with his left foot from the right side … just wide of the post! Looked like Navas had it covered, but a decent effort, and it’s applauded by the home supporters.
36 min: Depor have been well below-par, but they’ve been unlucky with a string of refereeing calls, Bale’s foul at the corner being the most egregious one.
35 min: Depor clear the corner, and Lucas runs clear, but he’s fouled by Modric, is he? Ref says no! Whistles from the crowd, but Real play on, and Ronaldo skims the bar! Lovely slipped pass by Marcelo, and Ronaldo hit it with his left-foot from the edge of the box, and it clipped the crossbar and went over! Ronaldo could have had four.
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33 min: Real are totally dominant here. Carvajal looks for Benzema, and Alex Bergantinos concedes another corner. It’s Real’s sixth.
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31 min: Ronaldo: what a machine.
6 - Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 50+ goals for Real Madrid in 6 consecutive seasons. Golden.
— OptaRMadrid (@OptaRMadrid) May 14, 2016
28 min: Ronaldo hits the post! And then emits an anguished scream, Munch-like. Beautiful first touch to bring it out of the sky, left side of the box, and then he poked with his right past Pletikosa, but it came back off the post! So unlucky. Depor are really rocking here.
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27 min: Well! I think Bale is lucky there: he might possibly have been having his shirt pulled, but he certainly seemed to barge Arribas. That should have been whistled. Still, Depor shouldn’t have stopped. Real well on top!
26 min: Lots going on in that sequence: Kroos took the corner, and Bale seemed to bump Arribas, who went down clutching his face. And Depor just kind of stopped, assuming the ref would blow for a foul. He didn’t, Ronaldo won the header, and it took a big deflection past Pletikosa. A posse of defender ran to the ref to complain, but the goal stands!
GOAL! Deportivo 0-2 Real Madrid (Cristiano Ronaldo 26)
Another one for Ronaldo, but Deportivo aren’t happy!
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25 min: Panicked defending by Depor after Ronaldo won a header, and Sidnei smacks it out for a corner. Kroos with the inswinger, and it’s headed clear, but Modric returns it with interest! Deflected; another corner.
24 min: A goal in Granada! Follow it here:
23 min: Better from the home side: they’ve finally managed to string a series of passes together in Real’s half. But then Mosquera gives it away, badly, and we’re as we were.
21 min: Fede Cartabia wanted a free kick on the edge of the box, but there’s no call. Whistles from the crowd. Now Ronaldo falls down in theatrical fashion – and the whistles grow louder. No free kick for CR7, though.
19 min: A rare Depor attack, but Luis Alberto gives it away, and suddenly Real can break: Ronaldo goes down the left, but his ball inside is misplaced, and Depor can breathe.
17 min: Depor just can’t get going. Real well on top, and Carvajal is free in acres of space on the right after a super long pass from Sergio Ramos. Navarro does well to stop the cross, though.
15 min: That was superb inswinging corner from Kroos, by the way. Really fizzed into the six-yard box.
Incidentally, I don’t think Keylor Navas has had a touch.
14 min: Oh, what a chance! The Depor marking was non-existent, and Sergio Ramos just couldn’t get a decent contact! He was totally free. A let-off for Depor.
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13 min: Marcelo races clear on the left flank, and Manuel Pablo stops him, finally, but it’s a corner.
12 min: Real had started with so much purpose. Depor couldn’t get out of their own half. And great play by Bale for the goal, skipping round Manuel Pablo with ease.
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11 min: So now Barcelona have to score! At this ludicrously early stage, Real are ahead by a point.
9 min: So simple: Bale was far too quick for Manuel Pablo, danced into the box and cut it back for Benzema, who miscued it from 10 yards, but it fell kindly to Ronaldo, who swept home from close range. Slightly feeble defending from Depor, but I think Benzema was a bit lucky: it looked like he went to shoot, and it just turned into the perfect pass for Ronaldo. But what a start for the visitors.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-1 Real Madrid (Cristiano Ronaldo 8)
Real lead!
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6 min: There’s some light rain in Galicia, meaning one or two players have lost their footing on the slick surface. We might see Bale and Ronaldo look to test Pletikosa with a shot or two from range.
4 min: Real have pushed up to the halfway line. They mean business. Bale dances into the area, in a similar position to where he scored against Man City, but Sidnei is quickly across. Now Casemiro’s ball to the back post, and Manuel Pablo concedes the corner.
3 min: Modric, who has been prominent early on, looks for the buccaneering Carvajal, but it’s slightly overhit, and out of play. Depor clear, and Luis Alberto runs away, but Pepe with a nice step to stop the hosts’ attack.
2 min: Real with an early spell of pressure, but Depor happy to sit back, soak it up, and pounce on the break.
And we're off!
1 min: We’re under way at the Riazor. The pitch looks immaculate. Real all in white, Depor in their characteristic blue and white stripes.
Back to today: we’re just observing a minute’s silence for the soccer fans who were killed in the cafe attack in Iraq on Friday.
It wasn’t all that long ago that Deportivo were kings of the castle and Real Madrid were also-rans: Depor won their first and only La Liga title in 1999-2000, burnished by the silken midfield talents of Djalminha and Fran. Here they are stuffing Real 5-2 in the FebruaryA:
And who was in that title-winning squad? Manuel Pablo, who’s playing today, aged 40.
Zidane won’t be keeping in touch with what’s happening in Andalusia: he’s focused only on his team.
“My only concern is the team’s next game against Deportivo,” he said. “It’s the only thing we have the power to control. We know that three points might give us a chance to hope. “I won’t know what’s going to happen until the end. We don’t depend on ourselves, but we don’t have to think about the other game, just about our game and winning.”
A strange season for Depor, and a deeply disappointing one. Victor Sanchez’s team started pretty well, and I watched them come back from two down to draw 2-2 at Camp Nou in December: they were excellent that day. Their form since Christmas, however, has been rotten: way too many draws, and the odd thrashing, including that embarrassing 8-0 home reverse against Barcelona a month ago. Last week they won really well at Villarreal, but it was only their second win since Boxing Day. Who knows what we’ll get today?
We should point out that Depor and Granada are safe from relegation, and have little to play for in the purest sense. (Other than pride and professionalism, obviously.) Both are safe from relegation; Levante are already down, and two of Getafe, Sporting and Rayo Vallecano could join them. If Getafe win, they’re safe. But if Sporting and Rayo lose they’re down.
There’s pro-Madrid bias here: Barry Glendenning has all the latest from Granada v Barcelona, being played simultaneously. That’s here:
It’s pretty much full strength for Real Madrid: five changes from their 3-2 win over Valencia, with Gareth Bale, Keylor Navas, Dani Carvajal, Pepe and Luka Modric all returning. Watch out for Depor’s Lucas Perez – he could be playing for Leicester City in the Champions League next year.
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Today's teams
Deportivo: Pletikosa, Manuel Pablo, Arribas, Sidnei, Navarro, Mosquera, Alex Bergantinos, Fede Cartabia, Faycal Fajr, Lucas, Luis Alberto. Subs: Manu Fernandez, Cani, Oriol Riera, Jona, Celso Borges, Jonas, Rober.
Real Madrid: Keylor Navas, Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Casemiro, Modric, Bale, Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo. Subs: Casilla, Varane, James Rodriguez, Kovacic, Jese, Isco, Danilo.
Referee: Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
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Tense moments in Spain, but the equation is simple enough. Real Madrid go to the Riazor stadium on the Galician coast today knowing only victory will do in their chase for the title – and even then, that might not be sufficient. Zinedine Zidane’s team are a point behind Barcelona, so if Barça win, all is academic. Real must win and hope Barça slip up; all Barça need to do is get three points in Granada. A draw for Real would be no good, even if Barça lose, since the Catalans’ head-to-head record is better. Ergo: Real have to win.
Regardless of the outcome today, Zidane has got Real back on track. On 27 February, when they lost to Atlético, they were nine points back of Barcelona, but since then they’ve gone on an 11-game winning streak to narrow the gap to one – and advanced to another Champions League final along the way. Real’s goal difference, almost unbelievably, is +74. (Barcelona’s is +80.) He’s won 20 of his 25 games in charge, but ZZ isn’t sure if he’ll be back next season.
“I don’t know if I have earned the opportunity to continue,” he said. “There were a lot of doubts and I can understand that. I haven’t won anything to make me think that I can stay on. We have two finals to play.”
Kick off for both games is 5pm local time, 4pm BST, and 11am ET. Join us!
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Tim will be here shortly. In the meantime, read Sid Lowe on why Real’s Champions League final opponents are a team built for suffering:
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