Soccer

Luis Suarez grabs a hat-trick as Barcelona retain Primera Division title

Luis Alberto Suarez celebrates scoring against Granada  
Luis Alberto Suarez celebrates scoring against Granada   Luis Alberto Suarez celebrates scoring against Granada  

Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick as Barcelona retained their Primera Division title with a 3-0 victory at Granada as Real Madrid's late-season charge came to nothing.

Suarez's first-half double put the defending champions in control and the Uruguay international confirmed Barca's 24th La Liga crown with his third goal four minutes from time.

Real, who entered the weekend just a point behind their fierce rivals, beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo brace but it proved in vain.

The Champions League finalists were on an 11-match winning streak in the league and were looking to capitalise on any further slip-up from the Catalans to steal top spot.

Barca, though, were not made to pay for their mini-slump in April - which brought three Primera Division defeats in four games - as they secured a fifth successive victory and a sixth title in eight years.

Despite a nervy start at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, it was Suarez who eased the tension with a 21st-minute goal.

The former Liverpool forward tapped home Jordi Alba's cross and then headed in Dani Alves' centre at the near post just before the break to double Barcelona's advantage.

Granada did seek a route back into the contest but Suarez ended any hope they, and Zinedine Zidane's Real, had of a comeback with a simple 86th-minute goal after unselfish work from Neymar.

The hat-trick also allowed Suarez to win his personal battle with Ronaldo in the race to clinch the Trofeo Pichichi - the league's top scorer - with 40 goals.

Madrid's talisman did do his best to breathe life into the title tussle with his own first-half double in Deportivo, but his 34th and 35th goals of the La Liga campaign were merely consolation.