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Real Madrid battles for title

Real Madrid's Ronaldo, right, goes for the ball against Athletic de Bilbao's Jesus del Horno during their first division soccer match played in Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain on Sunday. Real Madrid won its 29th title two points ahead of Real Sociedad. PHOTO: AP

Real Madrid won its 29th Spanish league title Sunday, but it was far from the easy stroll which had been widely predicted at the start of the season.

The star-studded team was crowned champion after defeating Athletic de Bilbao 3-1 in the final round, finishing two points ahead of second-place Real Sociedad. Vicente del Bosque's team held the top spot for only 11 of the season's 38 rounds.

Madrid was described by sections of the Spanish press as the greatest ever soccer lineup after Ronaldo joined Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane in Madrid's third high-profile signing in as many summers.

The team netted 86 league goals this season, winning 22 matches and often mesmerizing rival defenders with the quality of its play.

However, when opponents were able to frustrate the star attackers, they also found Madrid's defense could be flimsy, particularly when Mallorca inflicted a humiliating 5-1 defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in May.

Ronaldo made a dream debut on Oct. 6, scoring twice in 14 minutes after appearing as a 63rd-minute substitute against Alaves at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid's Luis Figo raises a replica of the Spanish league title cup next to Ronaldo after beating Athletic de Bilbao. PHOTO: REUTERS

However, the Brazilian then struggled as the powerhouse managed only two victories in his first 10 league and Champions League matches, including a 0-0 home draw with Sociedad.

Madrid then moved into top gear with a six-game winning streak -- and also lifted the Toyota Cup in Tokyo in early December -- although it still trailed an undefeated Sociedad by five points at the halfway stage of the season.

It then hit another bad patch, gaining one win in five games, including a second defeat of the season at lowly Osasuna on Feb. 16, although its poor form was masked by a simultaneous Sociedad slump.

On March 1, Ronaldo netted a hat-trick in a 5-1 win at Alaves to send Madrid to the top of the standings for the first time. Sociedad bounced back and Deportivo also entered into the picture thanks to a relentless run of victories.

On April 13, Sociedad stunned Madrid by racing to a 4-1 lead after just 33 minutes and running out a 4-2 winner.

The defeat began Madrid's third poor spell of the season, which was exacerbated on April 22 when striker Raul Gonzalez underwent an emergency appendix operation, two days before the Champions Cup quarterfinal second leg with Manchester United.

Madrid sacrificed its 30-month unbeaten home league record against Mallorca on May 3 and was then overtaken by both Deportivo and Sociedad as the season promised a thrilling finish with five rounds remaining.

Madrid's need to lift the domestic title was further increased on May 14 when it was eliminated by Juventus in the Champions Cup semifinals. But del Bosque's team responded in time and regained the leadership in the penultimate round by thrashing crosstown rival Atletico 4-0.

Ronaldo sealed the triumph with two goals against Bilbao to ensure that new signing, US$41 million midfielder David Beckham, would be playing in defense of the Spanish league title next season.
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