Barca seals title, Athletic Bilbao takes Champions League spot in La Liga

MADRID, May 15 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona was confirmed as this season's La Liga champion on Thursday night thanks to a 2-0 win away to Espanyol.

The first half in the Barcelona city derby was a relatively even affair, with Barcelona controlling most of the ball, but Espanyol creating a couple of decent chances.

Lamine Yamal put Barca ahead in the 53rd minute with another magnificent goal, cutting inside and curling his shot into the corner of the net.

When Espanyol defender Leandro Cabrera was sent off 10 minutes from time after swinging his arm into Yamal's stomach, Espanyol had no way back.

Deep into injury time, Fermin Lopez scored Barca's second to ensure the win that seals the club's 28th La Liga title.

Second-half goals from Gorka Guruzeta and Dani Vivian saw Athletic Bilbao win 2-0 at Getafe to ensure a place in next season's Champions League. The result keeps the Basque side in fourth place, three points clear of Villarreal.

A scrappy game opened up when Oihan Sancet came on as a second-half substitute for Athletic in the second half, with Guruzeta scoring from outside the area after 76 minutes and Vivian prodding home following a corner a minute from time.

The defeat means Getafe is still in slight danger of relegation after six consecutive defeats.

Third-placed Atletico Madrid returned to its Jekyll and Hyde form, as Diego Simeone's side lost 2-0 away to Osasuna.

Alejandro Catena's first-half opener and a late goal from Ante Budimir - taking his total for the season to 20 in La Liga - kept Osasuna in the battle to qualify for Europe next season, while Atletico paid for some poor finishing after having as many chances as its rival.

Rayo Vallecano remains eighth while Real Betis sealed sixth place after a 2-2 draw in Vallecas, which will leave both sides dissatisfied with the result.

Javi de Frutos' powerful free kick and Florian Lejeune's goal in injury-time put Rayo 2-0 up at the break, but Betis saved a point with second-half strikes from Cucho Hernandez and a penalty from Isco. Enditem