Real Madrid assured the BBVA Primera Liga title on Wednesday night thanks to a 3-0 win away to Athletic Club Bilbao.

Goals from Gonzalo Higuain and Mesut Ozil gave Madrid a 2-0 lead before halftime and Cristiano Ronaldo scored his side's third with a header five minutes after halftime.

It is the 32nd title in Madrid's history.

Athletic were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Javi Martinez was shown a second yellow card for handball when replays showed the ball had actually hit backside.

Madrid kicked off the game knowing they needed a win to secure the title after Barcelona had earlier won 4-1 at home over Malaga, thanks to a Leo Messi hatrick, but their win in Bilbao means Jose Mourinho's side have a seven point lead over Barca with just two games left to play.

Madrid's onfield celebrations were spoiled by Ronaldo, who provoked the home crowd and then made an obscene gesture to Martinez.

Earlier in the day FC Barcelona produced a professional display to defeat Malaga 4-1.

Leo Messi scored another hat-trick when Barca coach Pep Guardiola returned to the Camp Nou for the first time since he announced he was leaving the club at the end of the season.

Carlos Puyol put Barca ahead, before Solomon Rondon equalized for the visitors, who were still in with a chance of finishing third. Leo Messi then netted his 43rd league goal of the season from the penalty spot following a foul on Andres Iniesta.

Messi added two further goals after the break to take his league total to the season to 45, while the Barca fans ended the game emotionally chanting Guardiola's name.

Malaga's defeat allowed Valencia to strengthen their grip on third place with a 4-0 win at home to Osasuna. Aritz Aduriz and Jonas Goncalves scored two goals each

Zaragoza kept their hopes of an incredible fight-back to avoid relegation alive with a 1-0 home win against fifth placed Levante. Edu Oriol scored after 10 minutes to give Zaragoza the win, although the home fans suffered in the closing minutes given the closeness of the result and the importance of the game.

With two games to play Zaragoza are just three points behind Rayo Vallecano, who lost 1-0 in Mallorca due to Chori Castro's 61st minute goal.

Meanwhile Betis enjoyed a 2-1 in the Seville derby with a 2-1 triumph in Sevilla's Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Alvaro Negredo opened the scoring for Sevilla after 5 minutes, but two goals from Benat Etxebarria: both free kicks and the last in injury time, turned the game around.

The defeat leaves Sevilla with little chance of qualifying for Europe next season.

Earlier in the day, Atletico Madrid virtually said goodbye to their chances of finishing fourth with a 1-1 draw at home to Real Sociedad. Gabi Fernandez opened the scoring after 15 minutes, but Carlos Vela's 91st minute equalizer dashed Atletico's Champions League hopes.

Tuesday saw Getafe draw 1-1 at home with an already relegated Racing Santander, while Sporting Gijon were all but relegated after a 3-2 home defeat to Villarreal and Granada assured their Primera Liga survival thanks to a 2-1 victory against Espanyol.