Barcelona secured the La Liga title on Sunday evening courtesy of a 1-0 win over last year's champions Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.

Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the game to hand Barcelona their fifth La Liga title in seven seasons and secure the first trophy of a possible treble for Luis Enrique's men.

After a slow start to the game Atletico almost took the lead on eight minutes. Koke hit a corner to the near post which Gimenez flicked on and it looked to be going in but Claudio Bravo produced a sublime leap to push the ball away to underline the Chilean goalkeepers credentials as the best goalkeeper in La Liga this season.

Barcelona had their first shot on goal minutes later when Andres Iniesta and Neymar linked up well to tee up Messi on the edge of the box. The Argentinean was able to get a shot away but it was straight down the throat of Atletico stopper, Jan Oblak and he made a comfortable save.

Messi had another chance seconds later when Dani Alves put a fine cross into the box which Messi met with a header but once again the ball went straight into the arms of Oblak.

Messi was causing all sorts of trouble for the Atletico defence and he was presented with another opening on 18 minutes. He picked the ball up in midfield before linking up with Pedro and Neymar. The Brazilian found Messi on the edge of the box but the chance was wasted when the Argentine curled his shot high and over the bar.

Barcelona could have had a penalty minutes later when Juanfran handled a goal bound Messi header. Juanfran had his arms stretched out and the ball clearly struck his left hand but the referee waved play on to deny the Catalans what looked like a certain penalty.

There was controversy on 32 minutes when Alves went down inside the box after getting behind Diego Godin. The referee decided that the foul had took place just outside the box and gave a free kick to Barcelona right on the edge. Messi stepped up to take the free kick and sent a powerful effort towards Oblak's goal but it came off the top of the cross bar with the goalkeeper looking to be beat by the power on the shot.

Barca could have took the lead on 40 minutes when Pedro got behind the Atletico defence but with Neymar and Messi looking for the pass Pedro was only able to find Godin and the defence were able to get the ball away.

The final chance of the first half fell to the visitors and this time Oblak was forced into a fine save. Alves picked the ball up in midfield and decided to have a speculative effort from about 30 yards out. The shot was dipping and look to be going over Oblak but the Slovenian made an excellent stop to ensure the game remained scoreless at the break.

Atletico had a chance to take the lead at the start of the second half when Antoine Griezmann challenged Iniesta on the edge of the box before trying to shot past Bravo on the turn but his shot was off target.

Godin should have gave the hosts the lead minutes later when he stormed in unmarked at a corner but he got under his header and it went well over Bravo's crossbar when he had the goal at his mercy.

Barcelona took the lead on 65 minutes courtesy of a sublime goal from their talisman, Lionel Messi. Barcelona had enjoyed a good spell of possession before Jordi Alba found Messi at the edge of the box. The Argentine played a one two with Neymar before slotting into Oblak's bottom left hand corner.

It was almost two five minutes later when after another fine Barcelona move Iniesta passed to Neymar who tried to apply a cool flick goal ward but it went just wide of Oblak's near post.

Neymar had another excellent chance on 71 minutes when Messi put him through with just Oblak to beat. The Brazilian tried to shoot first time but got underneath the ball and put it miles over when he really should have done better.

Pedro almost scored a fine solo effort on 77 minutes. The Spanish international feigned to shoot twice to beat two Atletico defenders before attempting to beat Oblak with his left foot but the shot was just off target.

Guilherme Siqueira went close in the dying minutes when he unleashed a fierce effort from distance but Bravo got across to just tip it over the bar.

Messi almost secured the win and the title for Barcelona in the dying minutes. Messi and Neymar lined up to take a free kick in a dangerous area and the Argentine took the shot but once again Oblak was equal to it and punched the ball away.

That was the final action of the game and shortly after the referee blew the final whistle to signal the end of Atletico's tenure as La Liga champions and the beginning of Barcelona's.

For the second time in two seasons the title was decided by a meeting between these sides and once again it was the away side who won the league at the home of one of their rivals.

Of course this isn't the end of the season for Barcelona and they will now attempt to secure a treble when they take on Juventus in the Champions League Final and Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey which is a remarkable turnaround when one considers how 2015 started. After a defeat at the Anoeta it looked likely that Messi and Luis Enrique could not work together. Whatever, the issues where they seem to be in the past now and the future is once again looking bright for Barcelona.