Real Madrid 2 - Valladolid 1

Real Madrid: Casillas; Geremi, Hierro (Iván Helguera 46'), Karanka, Roberto Carlos; McManaman, Makelele, Sanchís, Savio (Flavio Conceiçao 72'); Guti (Munitis 57'), Raúl. 4-4-2.
Valladolid: Ricardo; Torres Gómez, García Calvo, Heinze, Marcos; Peña, Turiel (Eusebio 70'); Caminero (Fernando Sales 32'), Fernando, Chema (Ciric 60'); Kaviedes. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Casillas, Hierro, Makelele, Sanchís, Savio, Guti for César, Iván Helguera, Celades, Flavio Conceiçao, Solari, Munitis / Valladolid: No change.

Goals:
1-0. 24. Raúl. Took through ball from McManaman and shot low past Esteban.
1-1. 78. Kaviedes. Chested down long pass from Eusebio and beat Casillas.
2-1. 85. Raúl. Following up after Roberto Carlos long shot bounced off bar.

A festival atmosphere in the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid set a new record number of points and picked up the trophy as league champions for the first time in four years. With the title won a couple of weeks ago Madrid had little to play for but pride, but they didn't let that affect them as they gave their best against a Valladolid side who were fighting for survival in the first division. Del Bosque did make a few changes to his starting line up though, with the teams youngest and oldest players coming in for sentimental reasons, Casillas to pick up the Bravo prize as the best young footballer in Europe this season (awarded by the Italian magazine "Guerin"), and Sanchis to collect the cup for winning the championship in his last match before retiring. With Figo injured McManaman switched to his more normal right wing, with Savio returning on the left and Guti coming back up front.

Valladolid needed a point to be mathematically sure of staying up, although it would have taken a remarkable combination of results for them to be passed by the three teams below them. Even so manager Pepe Moré took no chances and put out the same side that had beaten Deportivo and drawn against Barcelona in their last two matches. This time though they were dominated right from the start, with Ricardo saving well from Savio and Hierro firing a free kick against the crossbar. It was only a matter of time, and fittingly it was Raúl who opened the scoring after McManaman touched on a pass from Makelele for the home grown striker to get his 23rd in the league and take him past Javi Moreno to the top of the Pichichi goalscorers chart. For the rest of the first half Madrid kept control, with Roberto Carlos trying a long shot from the halfway line and Ricardo once again keeping out Savio.

But after the break Valladolid came back as the home side took their foot off the accelerator, and Helguera, who had replaced Hierro at half time, cleared an effort from Chema off the line. By now Valladolid knew they were safe as Mallorca was getting a hat-full against Oviedo, but just to be sure they kept on and eventually got a deserved equaliser through Kaviedes, his third in consecutive games. Madrid weren't finished though, and after substitute Munitis wasted a couple of chances, Raúl was in the right place at the right time to tap the ball into the net after a shot from Roberto Carlos rattled the bar. As it happened he needed that one to wrap up the Pichichi for the second time in three years, with Rivaldo getting three for Barcelona, and the capacity crowd celebrated in style as a replica model of the Cibeles fountain was rolled on to the pitch. Sanchis picked up the cup surrounded by the other members of his famous "quinta", Butragueño, Michel, Martín Vázquez and Pardeza, and also by his father Manolo, who himself was an ex captain of the side. He leaves behind him a team on the up, and it will take a lot to stop Real Madrid from taking the title again next year.