In a thrilling game, Alexis Sanchez scored a wonder goal from a tight angle to give Barca a 1-0 lead going into half-time. Most sides would have faded away after that but Diego Simeone's side showed why they have been so good in Spain and in Europe this season, fighting back to end the 1st half strongly, and start the 2nd half on fire.
Kapitan Fantastico Diego Godin scored the most important goal for Atletico Madrid in 10 years with his head from a set piece to put Atleti back on level terms and that's where it finished.
Despite the expected onslaught from Barcelona led by substitute Neymar, Atletico were calm and cool at the back with Thibault Courtois impressing with some magnificent saves and stops as usual, and the right team ultimately became confirmed their status as Spain's newest champions.
I am a Barca fan normally but I think Barcelona winning the title at the death with victory at home would have been a travesty - La Rojiblanca over the campaign have been so much more consistent and showed more guts even when they didn't quite have the form. After hanging on for so long with a squad costing less than a quarter of Neymar's transfer fee, Rojiblanca are morally and rightfully champions - a lesson to the rest of the world that you still need an awesome team to win - Barca will be back next season with their new coach (more on that shortly).
It is the first time in ten years that a side other than Real Madrid or Barcelona has won Spain's La Liga - Valencia were the last side outside the duopoly to win the league back in 2004 - and it is a welcome relief for the rest of Spain and world football that even with all of the duopoly's money, there is still hope for the rest to compete with them.
In the wake of Barca's title loss, coach Gerardo Martino announced that he would step down as Barca coach immediately. The departure is not really surprising given Barca haven't had the best of seasons although he might not have been helped by injuries to Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes in the run-in as well as an aging squad. While his ethos to expand Barcelona's variety of play was admirable, his inexperience with the tactics of European football ultimately cost him the job - he does deserve another chance in Europe albeit with a club without the pressures of having to deliver the league and in Europe.
Luis Enrique looks set to take over the reins at the Camp Nou having left his post at Celta Vigo. The former Barca legend - and fans - will be hoping to emulate his former team-mate in bringing winning tikka-takka football back to the Camp Nou.
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