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By Simon Baskett
MADRID, May 5 (Reuters) - Real Madrid retained their league title in breath-taking fashion after fighting their way back from a sending off and a goal down in a dramatic 2-1 victory at Osasuna, one of the most hostile grounds in Spain.
It was the first time the club have won back-to-back championships since they racked up five titles in a row between 1986 and 1990 and proved beyond doubt that Real are once again the dominant force in Spanish football.
The victory also enabled Bernd Schuster to honour one of the two pledges he made when he took charge of the team following the sacking of Fabio Capello at the end of last season.
The German promised he would maintain the winning mentality and iron self-belief the Italian had instilled in the team after leading them to their first league championship in four years.
Real showed greater discipline, consistency and determination than any of their rivals, in particular pre-season favourites Barcelona, and were deserving winners of a 31st league crown.
They led the standings from almost the start of the season and, though they suffered a dip in form in January and February, they were never seriously challenged.
Despite the vast sums of money spent by club president Ramon Calderon in the past two seasons, it was the role of three former youth team players that laid the foundations of success.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas was once again outstanding, often coming to the team's rescue when they were playing badly. Following the departure of David Beckham, Guti came into his own in the midfield, having one of his best seasons since breaking into the first team over a decade ago.
RAUL REVIVAL
Up front, Raul continued the revival that began with the return of Capello and the departure of Ronaldo last season.
The Real skipper played in a more advanced role, helped himself to his best haul of goals in seven seasons and reasserted his authority in the dressing room.
New signing Wesley Sneijder, the exuberant Robinho, Dutch winger Arjen Robben and Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain also played important roles during the season.
The ever-reliable Ruud van Nistelrooy banged the goals in during the first part of the season, but Real managed without him in the final run-in.
However, Real's triumph cannot disguise the fact Schuster failed to live up to his other promise -- to go one better than Capello and bring football excellence back to the Bernabeu.
Although clearly the best side in Spain, Real faced far less competition than last season in, as the Spanish media put it, "the league that no one wanted to win."
BARCA SLIDE
Barcelona's slide in form, and the problems experienced by other potential contenders such as Valencia and Sevilla, ensured Real were never really given a run for their money.
Villarreal emerged with a late challenge, but arguably only thanks to the weaknesses of the other teams involved in the title chase.
Capello was sacked because he failed to meet the high standards required by Real, but while Schuster's side were more convincing in La Liga, they fared no better in Europe or the King's Cup.
Real were knocked out of the domestic Cup by Mallorca and exited the Champions League with barely a whimper after home and away defeats by Roma in the first knockout stage.
Schuster and the club are still no closer to breaking the English hegemony in the Champions League and restoring Real to the position of continental power they so desire.
