Real Madrid have been held to a 1-1 draw by Espanyol at Cornella-El Pratt in La Liga this evening.

Gonzalo Higuain's second-half equaliser cancelled out Christian Stuani's opener, but the visitors could not find the winner that would have kept alive their slim hopes of a second successive La Liga title.

The draw means that Barcelona have been crowned champions in the division despite not even playing on Saturday.

Stuani gave his side the lead after 23 minutes when Madrid failed to properly clear a corner, and the Uruguayan clipped a left-footed shot into the net.

Seven minutes later Stuani should have doubled his tally and Espanyol's lead but Diego Lopez closed down the forward's effort quickly to deny him the full sight of goal.

Less than a minute later the home side thought that they had made it 2-0 but Hector Moreno's effort was chalked off for a foul on Xabi Alonso in the build-up to the goal.

Higuain gave his side the equaliser they scarcely deserved two minutes before the hour mark when he flicked a header beyond Kiko Casilla after an excellent delivery from Luka Modric.

With eight minutes left on the clock, the home side were incensed when their two penalty appeals inside just a few seconds were waved away.

Stuani and Garcia both took a tumble inside the area but both appeals fell on deaf ears as the referee refused to buckle.

Victor Sanchez was given his marching orders in the 91st minute for a second bookable offence after he brought down Cristiano Ronaldo with a poor challenge.