Deportivo de La Coruña 2 - Espanyol 0

Deportivo: Songo'o; Manuel Pablo, Naybet, Donato, Romero; Mauro Silva, Jokanovic (Jaime 70'); Víctor, Djalminha (Pauleta 80'), Fran; Makaay (Turu Flores 60'). 4-3-2-1.
Espanyol: Mora; Cristóbal, Soldevilla (Nando 52'), Pochettino, Roger; Velamazán (Martín Posse 55'), Galca, Sergio, Arteaga; De Lucas; Tamudo (Serrano 70'). 4-4-1-1.

Team changes: Deportivo: Djalminha for Flavio Conceiçao / Espanyol: Mora, Soldevilla, Cristóbal, De Lucas for Cavallero, Navas, Nando, Martín Posse.

Goals:
1-0. 04. Donato. Header on near post from corner on left by Víctor.
2-0. 34. Makaay. Beat Mora from close range after cross from Manuel Pablo.

They have finally done it! After 94 years in existence, 29 in the first division, and finishing second on three occasions, Deportivo have won the Spanish first division for the first time in their history. They came oh so close six years ago when the Valencia keeper saved a last minute penalty from Djukic which would have given them the league title, but they were pipped at the post by Barcelona. A modest club with an annual budget only one third of the two big clubs, they have finally broken the hegemony of Barcelona and Real Madrid who have won the championship seven times each in the last fifteen years, with only Atlético Madrid winning one title in between. They are in fact only the ninth club to win the Spanish League in it's 69 years of existence, and curiously three of those teams, Atlético Madrid, Betis and Sevilla, are all relegated this year. Their manager Javier Irureta also made the history books, being the first Spanish born manager to win the title since Real Madrid's Molowny fourteen years ago. Once again everything came down to the last day, with three clubs, Depor, Barcelona and Zaragoza (looking for their first ever title) in with a chance. Deportivo were clear favourites however, with a three point advantage over the other two, and they only needed a point in this match to wrap things up. Their opponents Espanyol had nothing left to play for in the league (except perhaps under the table bonus payments rumoured to have been offered to their players by Barcelona and Zaragoza), and their manager Paco Flores rested three of his key players, keeper Cavallero, Nando and Martí Posse, with their first Spanish cup final in 43 years coming up in a week's time. Irureta put out his best available team, with Djalminha returning from suspension to replace the injured Flavio. A capacity crowd of 35,500 turned out in full costume, holding up a giant blue and white mosaic and spraying the ground with ticker-tape which left the pitch looking look Fifth Avenue on the fourth of July. Thousands more waiting at the Cuatro Caminos square in the centre of Coruña, less then a kilometre away from the Riazor stadium. As results went, the Gallician side could have lost and still been champions, as Barcelona could only draw and Zaragoza lost. However they didn't want to leave it up to others to their work for them, and just as news was coming in of an early goal for Zaragoza, Donato rose on the near post to head Víctor's corner past Mora. It was the icing on the cake for the 37 year old Spanish nationalised Brazilian, as the midfielder-turned-defender has been one of the driving forces of this championship winning side. The fans hearts were in their mouths a quarter of an hour later as Naybet brought down Tamudo in the penalty area, but Euro 2000 referee García Aranda waved away the penalty claims from the Espanyol players. Mora saved from Djalminha and Makaay before the Dutch striker got the better of him from close range after Manuel Pablo had left a defender in his wake before crossing from the right. Makaay's 22nd goal in the league (a total only bettered by Bebeto in Deportivo's history) was the cushion they needed, and a double cheer went up as Celta scored in the Camp Nou. Just before half time Depor were let off again as Naybet belatedly got a foot to a shot by De Lucas which had beaten Songo'o, and with luck also on their side, the teams went in at the break with Deportivo already looking like champions. Results continued to go their way, and although Barça clawed back to equalise against Celta, Valencia cancelled out Zaragoza's lead, and then went in front themselves. Víctor hit the crossbar with one shot and scraped the post with another, but Espanyol were not going to come back from this one, and Flores rested Velamazán and Tamudo later in the half. As the whistle blew the crowd invaded the pitch, looking for a bit of the goal netting or some other souvenir to remind them of the big night. Celebrations went on into the early hours, with the players dying their hair blue and white before joining fans at the Cuatro Caminos fireworks display. Deportivo qualify directly for the league stage of next season's Champions League, and Irureta will be asking club president Augusto César Lendoiro for some spending money to strengthen his squad further. Racing's Salva and Munitis are on the shopping list, with Pauleta likely to go to Zaragoza. First though, they can take a well earned holiday. They deserve it. Espanyol went home early as they still have another little match to play. They can be thankful that nobody was injured, and they hope that they will be able to celebrate their title a week from now, which would a fitting tribute in their centenary year.