It has been yet another scintillating La Liga campaign packed with brilliant moments. From teams battling it out to stay in the top flight, to the superstars of the world continuing on their way to goal scoring glory, the Spanish championship had everything and then some.
FC Barcelona were deservedly crowned champions for the sixth time in just eight seasons, winning their 24th title. It went down to the wire though as, on matchday 38 they had to win over Granada to ensure their status of champions.
Either a draw or loss coupled with a Real Madrid win would have seen Los Blancos become victors for the 33rd time. Luis Suarez led the goals and assists to crown off a magnificent campaign breaking Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s reign at the top.
Here are the 10 best moments of this La Liga season:
#10 Cristiano Ronaldo breaks record on final match day
There’s great, there’s amazing, there’s ridiculous and then there’s Cristiano Ronaldo. The man has always been an incredible player, but his goal scoring records in the past few years have bordered on the insane.
On the final matchday against Deportivo, Real Madrid required a win to stay in the title race and hope Barcelona either lose or draw to win the title. The Catalans, of course, got the job done, but Ronaldo managed to break yet another goal scoring record with his brace at Riazor.
The Portuguese sensation scored his 50th and 51st goals to become the first player in history to score 50 goals or more for the sixth year in a row. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner keeps raising the bar and has truly established himself as one of the greatest players of all time.
#9 Neymar Sombrero goal against Villareal
A lot of people felt Barcelona could not perform without their superhero, Lionel Messi. While it is true that without the mercurial Argentine Barcelona are not the same team, Neymar’s form in his absence gave the Catalans hope that there is life after the 28-year-old.
The Brazilian was absolutely spectacular after Messi picked up a knee injury in late September, leading the team with some brilliant performances against Rayo, Getafe and Eibar. But his crowning moment unquestionably was the goal against Villareal on matchday 11.
With second half goals from Suarez and Neymar himself, Barca were cruising when in the 85th minute something magical happened. Neymar received the ball from Suarez and flicked it audaciously over Costa before doing an 180 degree spin himself and volleying it past a helpless Areola, making it 10 goals since Messi’s absence.
Truly astonishing stuff from a player who promises to be one of the best in the world for years to come.
#8 Alvaro Arbeloa’s grand farewell
Matchday 37 and Real Madrid scraped through with a 3-2 win at home against Valencia thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo double to keep them in contention for the title. The match though, was a special occasion for Madridistas all around the world as a hometown hero was playing his last game at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Alvaro Arbeloa has always been loved by the Madrid faithful for his no-nonsense approach as well as his fighting spirit, symbolizing his Madrid DNA. He has been ousted out of the first team thanks to Dani Carvajal and Danilo in recent years, but still remains a fond character.
Having been sold to Deportivo and then Liverpool, before being bought back following his impressive performances, he had been a mainstay in the Los Blancos and Spain national team for years together. Having managed to win all the accolades for club and country, it has been a great career.
During the game, while leading 3-1, Zidane chose to substitute star man Ronaldo for Arbeloa and the player got to play one last time on the Bernabeu turf. Once the game was over, he was raised by all the players and given a rousing send off, a fitting farewell for a fan favorite.
It was somewhat disappointing for the other fans though, as they argued why didn’t Iker Casillas, a club legend and one of the best players ever, not receive such a farewell when he left last season. Nonetheless, it was a memorable day for the Madrid youth product, one he’s sure to never forget.
#7 Messi scores his 500th goal in loss against Valencia
The 2-1 Clasico loss in April was a bad one for Barcelona as they went on to lose the next few matches against Real Sociedad as well as Atletico Madrid, failing to defend their Champions League crown. The game against Valencia was important to say the least as both the Madrid clubs were sensing an opportunity to pounce on any Barcelona draw or defeat.
But it was another poor display by the Blaugrana as they lost the game 2-1 making it four defeats in five games, with Atletico Madrid recovering to become level on points and Real just one behind.
But there was a silver lining of course, as Lionel Messi ended his personal goal drought of 515 minutes to score his 500th career goal. ‘La Pulga’ was the only bright spot in the game trying to get his team back to the level they belong at.
In addition to his 500 goals, Messi has also won an unprecedented five Ballon d’Ors and is also the club’s all time top scorer, as well as being La Liga’s all time top scorer. Not bad, those figures.
#6 Relegated Levante end Atletico's title hopes
It looked like another comfortable victory for the Atletico juggernaut. After having taken down giants like Real in the league and Barcelona and Bayern in the Champions League, Los Colchoneros looked exceptionally confident ready to take down anyone in their path.
Already relegated Levante happened to be the ones against Simeone’s men and were already down just 82 seconds into the match as Torres gave Atleti the lead from Koke’s ball. Levante striker Victor Casadesus though equalized at the half hour mark leaving the match in the balance.
It looked set to end all-square when on loan striker Guiseppe Rossi scored a last minute goal to end Atletico Madrid’s title hopes and send Diego Simeone’s men third in the points table. A shock result to say the least.
#5 Luis Suarez scores back-to-back four-goal hauls.
Barcelona were in a full blown crisis having lost four out of their last five games, conceding their lead at the top of La Liga, as well as falling out of the Champions League to rivals Atletico Madrid.
They were in danger of putting their entire season into jeopardy unless they won against Deportivo away. The Riazor is a tough place to play football and Barcelona needed somebody to stand up and take them through this tough period. Enter Luis Suarez.
The striker had been in incredible form prior to the clash as well but his four goals and three assists in a match of such importance highlighted the fact that he's been the Catalan club's most important player this season. His involvement in seven goals was the most by a player in a single game in the history of La Liga.
Barcelona ended up winning the game 8-0 and were back on track. Next game, against Sporting Gijon at home and Suarez was back at it again scoring another four goals to become the first player in history to score four goals in back to back games. Barcelona were demolishing opposition once again and Suarez was the man behind their resurgence.
#4 Messi Suarez ‘pass penalty’ against Celta Vigo
Leading 3-1 and strolling towards another comfortable victory, Lionel Messi had a chance to score his 300th La Liga goal as the Argentine was tripped by Castro in the box resulting in a penalty. The 28-year-old put the ball on the spot, got into his stance and looked set to shoot.
But all of a sudden, there was Luis Suarez scoring and celebrating a hat-trick. It took some time for Celta to understand what had happened but it was clear when it did. Messi had audaciously passed the penalty in Suarez’s path with the striker calmly bundling it home.
It was yet another moment of brilliance from the two superstars out of the ‘MSN’ trio. Later, Barcelona did reveal that the goal was scored in that fashion as a tribute to the legendary Johan Cruyff who had just given an update on his battle with cancer a couple of days prior to the clash.
The former Barca and Ajax player had done the ‘pass penalty’ himself during his Ajax days and it was recreated with aplomb by the South American stars.
#3 Iniesta’s goal and standing ovation at the Bernabeu
Nov 21, 2015. It was the first clasico of the 2015/16 season and the entire world was gearing up for what seemed to be an enthralling contest between the world’s best players. Barcelona were already leading the League and looking to increase their lead at the top of the table.
Their visit to the Santiago Bernabeu would see them do something truly historic. Suarez gave the visitors the lead and Neymar made it 2-0 soon after. Real were looking for some inspiration after the break but a fine team move finished by the one and only Andres Iniesta in breathtaking fashion, killed the game off.
Jubilant scenes followed as Barcelona were seen celebrating wildly. After 77 minutes, the Spaniard was substituted for Munir when he received a standing ovation from the Barca fans but also from the Madridistas present in the stadium, highlighting just how respected the 32-year-old is.
It was a brilliant moment showing the impact of certain figures on the footballing world.
#2 Ronaldo’s Camp Nou clincher
Ten points behind. Barcelona on a 39 mach unbeaten streak. Real Madrid had absolutely no right to win the Clasico at Camp Nou. But as we all know, football is a funny game.
The match was a tense affair as Madrid started cautiously, with memories of the 4-0 mauling at the Bernabeu still lingering. But Zidane’s men had been set up well to counter-attack and looked solid defensively. Pique though gave the home side the lead increasing the hatred towards himself from Madridistas.
Against the run of play though, Benzema somehow acrobatically equalized and Gareth Bale looked to have put Madrid in the lead after a perfect header. But the referee inexplicably gave a foul as Alba went to ground theatrically. It remained 1-1.
Minutes later Ramos was sent off for yet another rash tackle, this time on Suarez. Down to ten men, Bale sent a cross on the next attack and who else but the Real Madrid no.7 latched on to it. He chested it down beating Dani Alves in the process and nutmegged Claudio Bravo with Pique watching on to score the goal that ended their streak.
He went about doing his usual celebration before the ‘Calma’ to the Cules which had come under criticism last year, with the LFP president Javier Tebas saying it must be banned. But Ronaldo did it and the Camp Nou watched on as the player they loathed silenced them yet again.
#1 Barcelona pay moving tribute to Johan Cruyff
March 24, 2016. A heartbreaking day for FC Barcelona. Johan Cruyff lost his battle with cancer and passed away at the age of 68. The Dutchman is widely regarded as the godfather of the modern day Barca having reinvigorated the club as a player as well as a coach.
Cruyff was the pioneer who passed on his footballing knowledge to his ‘Dream Team’ players (especially Pep Guardiola) and is credited as the exponent of the ‘Tiki Taka’ philosophy that Barcelona have been known for and been so successful with in the past decade. When news of his death came, there was an outpouring of grief from the entire footballing fraternity and Barcelona as players, coaching staff and the people paid their respects to the man who heralded the golden generation in Blaugrana history.
On the eve of the El Clasico, a week after his death, 90,000 fans held a huge mosaic which said ‘Gracies Johan’ (Thank You Johan) in a moving tribute to the former Ajax star. There was also a moment of silence as well as applause throughout the 14th minute of the game to honor the player who wore 14.
It was a fitting tribute to a phenomenon, one of the greatest to ever play the game.
