Relegation took Levante, Real Murcia and surprisingly Real Zaragoza, who just months before were pushing for a UEFA Cup berth.
The title race:
The title race if you could call it that as it turned out saw Real Madrid make a strong start while Barcelona made strides along with Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal.
September:
By the end of September it was Real Madrid who were leading with a total of 16 points with Villarreal in 2nd a point behind with Valencia followed by Barcelona.
October:
Valencia's season and title challenge would fade and in late October coach Quique Sánchez Flores was sacked. Ronald Koeman came in and the next seven months would prove disastrous. Madrid kept winning with an impressive 5-1 victory at Valencia on halloween the pick on the results. Barca meanwhile were drawing too many games.
November:
Heading into November, Real Madrid were on top with a four point cushion from Barcelona who were level with Villarreal on points. Atlético Madrid rose to 4th a point behind Barca and Villarreal but they were to fade too.
The title race continued and Madrid's lead at the top was cut to a solidary point from Villarreal while Barcelona were a further point behind. Playing well at home was key for Madrid while also going away and picking up three points.
December:
December was a key month in the title race. Villarreal endured a poor run of form while Barcelona failed to get wins ahead of the Clásico in the final round before christmas. A Julio Baptista goal was enough to settle the Clásico at Camp Nou to ensure Madrid were seven points clear of the Catalans. A major surprise going into 2008 was Espanyol's rise to 3rd.
January:
Four victories from four for Real Madrid in January that also included a 3-2 win over Villarreal. Barcelona won three times but drew twice as they lost ground on Madrid. At the end of the month Madrid were nine points clear of 2nd placed Barcelona Villarreal a distant 3rd.
February:
A defeat for Madrid at Almería gave Barca hope as they were victorious over Osasuna. Villarreal could only draw with Mallorca.
The next round was crucial for Madrid as they trashed Valladollid 7-0 with Barcelona held in Seville and victorious in Murcia. That was as good as it got for Madrid in February as a champions league exit coupled with a defeat in Betis meant Barca and Villarreal could capitalize. Capitalize they did as both sides were victorious on the same round as Madrid defeat at Real Betis.
Madrid lost again this time at home to Getafe while Barcelona dispatched Levante 5-1 with Villarreal also victorious in Bilbao.
Heading into March the table was not as good as it was a month previous for Madrid. Madrid were just two points clear of Barca while Villarreal closed to within ten of Madrid.
March:
The first weekend of March saw Madrid travel to Recreativo, a potentially tricky game but a Robinho injury time goal ensured victory for Real while Barcelona lost to Atlético and Villarreal were held by Osasuna.
Real Madrid appeared to had turned a corner with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in the next round. In the same round Barca met Villarreal and lost which meant double joy for Madrid as they extended their slender lead.
Madrid lost at Deportivo La Coruna (again) which presented another chance for Barca and Villarreal. Villarreal took their chance with a 2-0 victory at home to Zaragoa while Barca were held in Almería.
Villarreal followed that result with a 2-1 success at Levante in a round that also saw Real Madrid lose at home to Valencia which was a golden chance for Barca to catch their rivals. Barca did win 4-1 at home to Valladolid which set up another month of twists and turns in what was proving to be a frantic race.
Final round of matches in March saw Madrid return to winning ways with a 3-1 win over Sevilla at the Bernabéu while Barca lost in Betis and Villarreal, just about in the title race winning 3-0 against Atlético.
The table looked reading for Madrid as they lead six points. Villarreal had caught up with Barca into 2nd while Atlético and Racing had reached 4th and 5th respectively.
April:
A draw in the Balearic Islands was Madrid's first result in April with Villarreal beaten by Sevilla and Barca drawing blank against Getafe.
The next round of games in mid-April saw Madrid claim a single-goal victory over Murcia and Villarreal beaten by Almería with Barca held in Huelva by Recreativo.
Madrid were starting to peak at the right time while Barca were losing a lot of ground.
Madrid went to Santander next and won 2-0 with well taken goals by Raúl and Gonzalo Higuaín. Barca meanwhile were held in the Catalan derby by Espanyol and Villarreal won at home to Valladolid to return to winning ways.
The final round in April saw Madrid go a step closer to the title with a 3-0 win over Bilbao while Barca were firmly out of contention with a 2-0 defeat at Deportivo. Villarreal kept their slim chances up with a victory in Betis.
The table as we progressed to May was good reading for Madrid. Victory at Osasuna would gurrantee the title no matter what result in Villarreal. Barca meanwhile were 14 points behind with four games to play and their hopes gone. Villarreal though were ten points behind but Madrid had the upper hand.
May:
Victory it was for Madrid was a last-minute strike by Higuaín secured victory in rain-trenched Osasuna. Villarreal had won against Getafe but Madrid secured the title with that 2-1 success. Barcelona, out of the title race beat Valencia 6-0 to limit some damage.
The Clásico was next and the humiliating guard-of honour from Barca to Madrid in the Bernabeu was followed by a 4-1 rout for Madrid as they celebrated winning the title in style. Villarreal eager to secure 2nd were 2-0 winners in Huelva.
The race for 2nd was between Villarreal and Barca but with Barca struggling the favorites were Villarreal. A 3-2 loss at home to Mallorca signaled the end of a woeful season for Barca as Villarreal all but tied up 2nd with a 2-0 victory over Espanyol. Madrid meanwhile continued their form with a draw in Zaragoza.
The final round of the season saw Madrid win 5-2 over cash-strapped and relegated Levante while Barca did sign off with a stylish 5-3 Giovani Dos Santos inspired victory while Villarreal confirmed 2nd place with a 2-0 win away to Deportivo La Coruna.
Final:
Madrid won the title by eight points from Villarreal who finished in their highest ever position. Barcelona meanwhile were a distant and wounded 3rd a staggering 18 points off Madrid. Barca's position was even more staggering as they finished only three points from 5th placed Atlético Madrid which would have meant UEFA cup football for Barca in 2008-09.
Madrid rain in Spain.
