Athletic Bilbao Vs. Real Madrid, 2012 La Liga: Los Merengues Are Champions

Real Madrid are champions of La Liga, thanks to their fantastic performance on Wednesday against Athletic Bilbao at San Mames. Because of injuries and fixture congestion, Athletic did not play some of their top players and did not look like themselves against Los Merengues. The visitors scored twice early in the match, then added another shortly after halftime before coasting to a 3-0 victory.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 12th minute, but his miss was soon forgotten. Gonzalo Higuain scored the opener in the 16th minute with an absolute stunner, hit with ferocious power past Gorka Iraizoz from 20 yards out. Just four minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo set up Mesut Özil for a close-range finish with a great cross, doubling Madrid's lead.

Ronaldo scored a goal of his own, making up for the penalty miss by heading in a Xabi Alonso cross in the 50th minute. Madrid seemed to let off the gas a bit after that third goal, and truly went into coast mode when Javi Martinez was shown a harsh second yellow card for what looked to be an unintentional handball in the 72nd minute.

This victory put Madrid seven points ahead of Barcelona with two games to go, clinching the title. The players celebrated the title on the pitch and a number of Athletic fans stayed to applaud them, along with the large number of Madrid supporters who made the trip to the Basque Country.