Two goals from Argentina winger Lionel Messi and one each from captain Carles Puyol, Brazilian forward Ronaldinho and Italian full-back Gianluca Zambrotta gave the Catalans an easy win against an already-relegated Gimnastic, who grabbed a consolation goal through Swedish striker Tobias Grahn late on.

Frank Rijkaard's side came into the last round of matches level on points with Real, but with an inferior record in the matches played between the two sides this season.

Therefore, Barcelona needed to achieve a better result than Fabio Capello's team in order to win a third consecutive league title.

For much of the evening, it looked as if they would do so, but Real Madrid's late fightback at the Bernabeu meant that for the first time in three seasons, the Catalans ended a campaign without a major trophy.

Barcelona attacked from the outset and looked to have got off to a perfect start when Samuel Eto'o had the ball in the net after just five minutes, but the Cameroon striker saw his effort ruled out for offside.

Ronaldinho, back in the side after missing last weekend's Catalan derby through suspension, fired a free-kick over the bar five minutes later as the visitors sought to turn their early dominance into goals.

The Brazilian forward then crossed for Eto'o after 13 minutes, but the African frontman shot just over the bar.

At the other end, David Cuellar also fired over in a rare Gimnastic attack.

But Barcelona continued to dominate and came even closer to taking the lead after 20 minutes, when Eto'o crashed a header against the post.

A minute later, Barcelona did go ahead.

Messi charged into the right-hand side of the area and crossed for Puyol to fire home from close range.

With Madrid losing at home to Mallorca, things were going well for Barcelona and they looked to have got even better after 26 minutes when Eto'o headed home Ronaldinho's cross, but the striker again saw his effort ruled out for offside.

It mattered little as Barcelona soon added a second goal, when Messi advanced into the area and curled an angled drive into the far corner after 34 minutes.

Three minutes later, Ruben Perez got a hand to Ronaldinho's free-kick, but was unable to keep out the Brazilian's effort and Barcelona went in at the break with a three-goal advantage.

After the interval, the Catalans quickly added a fourth goal when Messi tapped the ball home on the goal-line after Ruben had parried Eto'o's shot after 50 minutes.

Madrid were still behind at home to Mallorca and the title looked to be heading to Barcelona for a third year running, but three late goals at the Bernabeu ended the Catalans' hopes of retaining their trophy.

Gimnastic had an effort ruled out for offside before scoring their last Primera Liga goal through Grahn with six minutes remaining.

By this time, news had come through of Madrid's goals and despite scoring a fifth through Zambrotta in injury time, Rijkaard's side end the season with just the Copa Catalunya to their name in a year when they had hoped to win an unprecedented seven trophies.