Suarez savors hat-trick as Barca take La Liga crown

MADRID - FC Barcelona were crowned as the Spanish BBVA Primera Liga champions for the 2015-16 season after a 3-0 win away to Granada on Saturday afternoon.

Barcelona's Luis Suarez celebrates his second goal. [Photo/Agencies]

Luis Suarez was the Barca hero with a decisive hat-trick including an opening goal which steadied nerves after a short spell when they found themselves in second place in the league as Real Madrid moved ahead in their match away to Deportivo la Coruna.

Kicking off at the same time as a Real Madrid side which were a point behind them, the Barcelona players knew a win would see them retain the title, although Cristiano Ronaldo's seventh minute goal momentarily put his side ahead in the title race.

Barca also started brightly with Gerard Pique seeing a header clawed off the line by Granada keeper, Andres Fernandez, who then tipped a Messi shot over the bar.

Suarez opened the scoring and calmed nerves with a simple goal in the 21st minute after Neymar allowed Jordi Alba to slide a pinpoint cross into the striker's path for a simple tap-in.

He doubled the lead with his 39th league goal of the campaign when Dani Alves' energy saw him reach Mascherano's long ball from the back before whipping a first time cross which the quicksilver Suarez nodded past the helpless Fernandez.

The second half began with Barca still in control before Granada changed their tactics and began to stage pressure higher up the pitch and Ter Stegen was called to make a sharp save as Fran Rico had a decent chance for the home side.

The game opened out slightly and Fernandez saved well from Neymar and collected an Alves cross as Barca looked to take advantage of the extra spaces which had opened up.

The game also got bad tempered after an incident in which former Barcelona winger Isaac Cuenca failed to kick the ball out to allow Suarez to get some treatment.

Suarez was able to play on and in the 86th minute completed his hat-trick to finish off a move involving Messi and Neymar with a tap in to get the title celebrations started in earnest.