After Real hand them the title, Barca can finally celebrate La Liga title as Messi limps off... and are given guard of honour from Madrid (but only Atletico)

By Graeme Yorke

PUBLISHED: 14:46 EST, 12 May 2013 | UPDATED: 18:25 EST, 12 May 2013

Not even an injury to Lionel Messi in the 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday could dampen Barcelona's celebrations at winning their 22nd Spanish league title. 

Messi started his first match in six rounds because of a recurring right hamstring injury, but he left the field in the 68th minute with Barcelona trailing 1-0 to Radamel Falcao's 52-minute goal and having made all three substitutions. 

However, Alexis Sanchez leveled in the 72nd and Atletico midfielder Gabi Fernandez scored an own goal in the 80th to restart Barcelona's party for winning the title that was clinched when Real Madrid drew late Saturday.

Champions: Barcelona players celebrate their comfortable La Liga triumph

Champions: Barcelona players celebrate their comfortable La Liga triumph

Late winner: Alexis Sanchez scored the second goal after Lionel Messi hobbled off

Late winner: Alexis Sanchez scored the second goal after Lionel Messi hobbled off

Respect: Atletico Madrid gave the Barcelona players a guard of honour as they walked onto the pitch

Respect: Atletico Madrid gave the Barcelona players a guard of honour as they walked onto the pitch

Barcelona can match Madrid's record haul of 100 points it if wins its remaining three matches.
Atletico plays Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on Friday. 

Meanwhile, Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane says he will need surgery on his injured right knee.

The 29-year-old France international wrote on Twitter on Sunday that medical tests indicate he has 'torn cartilage' that will require an operation. 

Varane hurt his leg in Saturday's 1-1 draw at Espanyol that allowed Barcelona to clinch the Spanish league title. 

Madrid play Atletico Madrid on Friday in the final of the Copa del Rey.

Winners: Former Arsenal stars Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song celebrate in the Barcelona dressing room

Winners: Former Arsenal stars Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song celebrate in the Barcelona dressing room

Shock on the cards: Atletico's Radamel Falcao celebrates after putting the home side ahead

Shock on the cards: Atletico's Radamel Falcao celebrates after putting the home side ahead

Top: Their was no stopping Barca as they came from behind to win their 29th league game of the season

Top: Their was no stopping Barca as they came from behind to win their 29th league game of the season

Earlier in the day, Valencia gave their Champions League ambitions a major boost by producing a convincing 4-0 win at Rayo Vallecano.

Roberto Soldado scored twice before the break, while Andres Guardado and Nelson Valdez completed the rout in the second half.

The result was Valencia's second consecutive 4-0 victory and means Ernesto Valverde's side temporarily move one point ahead of Real Sociedad, who host Granada on Monday.

Malaga and Sevilla both passed up opportunities to gain ground in their respective campaigns to qualify for Europe by playing out a goalless draw at La Rosaleda.

Sidelines: Raphael Varane had to be helped off the pitch and needs n operation on a torn cartilage

Sidelines: Raphael Varane had to be helped off the pitch and needs n operation on a torn cartilage

The two sides were evenly matched and although the visitors created marginally the better chances, a draw was not an unfair result in the end.

The result all put paid to Malaga's already slim hopes of finishing in the top four as they are five points behind Valencia with one game less to play.

Real Betis boosted their European hopes after ending a four-match winless run with a 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Celta Vigo.

Ruben Castro's goal midway through the second half decided things in Betis' favour as they kept the heat up on stuttering Malaga in sixth spot.

It meant there was no win for Manuel Pellegrini, who is on the brink of replacing Roberto Mancini at Manchester City.

Glum: Manuel Pellegrini, on the brink of joining Manchester City, watched Malaga's goalless draw with Sevilla

Glum: Manuel Pellegrini, on the brink of joining Manchester City, watched Malaga's goalless draw with Sevilla

 

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explain all the Song hate? hes popular with barca fans and has over 30 appearances this season. That was his 7th straight start in the league. Anyway, congrats to barca, lead from the very start.

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Barca you are still best in the world Congratz. we are not best in the world jst by winning 1 trophy.jst bad result against Bayern & few loses peoples started commenting but they don't know it takes years to reach the top of the world. peoples forgot that barca thrashd bayern before 2 yrs in CL quarter final 4-0. And the fact is bayern played with full strength but barca played without their main defence due to injury & half fit messi. this things matters if we had played with all the 1st team players & fit messi result would have been different. we have won six titles in 2009 (Copa del Rey, La Liga, UEFA Champions League, Supercopa de España, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup) in a single season.Thats why barca is best We are proud of that achievement Visca el Barca

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ease to another win? did you watch the game? they won by a fluke own goal. They brought Falcao off early. idiots

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how does song even get a medal. he hasnt played enough games surely

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Even Nicklas Bendtner won a Serie A medal! LOL Add him, fabregas, song and RVP to the ever growing lost of arsenal players who have left and won something almost immediately!

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Uhm...DM i think you have it wrong AGAIN....Raphael Varane is 19 years old not 29 geez get your editing right

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hope athletico Madrid pull it together and win next season so boring watching barca and real win all the time

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Congrats Barca! Well deserved!!!!!

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Haters will always be haters, rite?? No matter what, they already taken the league.Congrats.Feel sorry for Ronaldo.

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Why are people saying Cesc has a bad body? What does it matter when you're winning titles? Maybe if Alex Song focused on the game instead of his body he would play a lot more.

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