Monthly Archives: May 2014

State and territory leaders say they cannot afford the scale of cuts in Tuesday’s federal budget, and have demanded an urgent meeting with the prime minister in Canberra.

The premiers and chief ministers on Sunday disputed suggestions from Tony Abbott that $80 billion in budget cuts would have no impact for three years, saying NSW alone will suffer a $2 billion hit over the next four years.

But at an emergency summit in Sydney they shied away from talk of tax hikes to make up the shortfall, particularly a rise in the GST.

“I have a belief that the federal government want us to talk about tax increases,” said Queensland Premier Campbell Newman, who chaired the meeting.

“Sorry, we’re not going there.”

Mr Abbott and Treasurer Joe Hockey have justified the cuts by declaring hospitals and schools the responsibility of states and territories who should find their own sources of funding.

The prime minister added fuel to the fire earlier on Sunday when he dismissed talk the states were facing a budget emergency.

The changes would not take effect for three years, he said.

“We’ve got an enormous amount of time to sit down and work things out,” he told ABC television.

“I’m looking forward to having lots of discussions with the states over coming months and years.”

Mr Abbott said the coalition had been “absolutely upfront” with the states over health and education funding, despite claims they were blindsided by the series of cuts made over the next ten years.

“We said we would honour the then government’s commitments over the then (four-year) forward estimates,” he said.

“We said that we weren’t bound by (the former Labor government’s) pie-in-the-sky promises for the out years.”

The state and territory leaders – minus Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett – called for a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments before July 1.

They rejected the cuts as “completely unacceptable”, saying they would have an immediate impact on state and territory budgets.

“We don’t have the capacity to deal with it. We need to come to Canberra as a matter of urgency,” NSW Premier Mike Baird said after Sunday’s leaders meeting.

“We can’t afford it. It’s a pretty simple equation.”

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine said the cuts would hit ordinary Australian families – and the blows would start from July 1.

“These are simply unaffordable and unsustainable from the states’ point of view,” he said.

He said federal-state discussions on funding arrangements should have taken place before the cuts were announced.

The meeting also called for white papers on reform of the federation and taxation to be accelerated.

“I think that Tony Abbott needs to come to a COAG meeting with us to hear first hand the direct impact,” Mr Napthine said.

South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill said his state would have to close 150 hospital beds at the beginning of July.

“What the commonwealth did in the budget the other day is that they decided to push something across the table to us. We’re pushing it right back to them,” he said.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said the government was using the cuts as a “back door” to a hike in the GST.

“Tony Abbott is using cutbacks to states as a form of blackmail to force the states to introduce a bigger GST,” he told reporters in Melbourne.

source: ninemsn.com.au

ABOUT 10,000 people have gathered in Melbourne CBD today to protest the Abbott Government’s budget.

The demonstration came as thousands of people across the country rallied to voice their anger at the federal budget.

Protesters in Melbourne gathered outside the State Library at 2pm before a series of speeches took place.

There was a heavy police presence while the protesters clapped and cheered the speeches.

At 2.40pm the crowd started making its way down Swanston St towards Federation Square.

Before the march began Adam Bandt, the Greens leader, told the crowd he expected a new prime minister by Christmas.

“No one voted for this budget,” he said. “He lied his way to power.”

“Tony Abbott has rounded on us. It takes guts and courage to stand up to the powerful and wealthy but a coward to take an axe to the young, the sick and the poor.

“They are making life brutal for everyone who comes after them.

“This administration will be devastating to Gen Y.

“When you are looking for a job the government will take away your income while you are looking.

“This budget is a poisonous recipe for young people in this country.”

The crowd marched down Swanston St, before looping across to Elizabeth St via Bourke St.

It then made its way back over to Swanston St via Collins St.

The protesters ended up in Federation Square where more speeches took place.

Father Bob Maguire finished proceedings off shortly after 4.30pm by telling the crowd “democracy is much more than a system…it is an ideal”.

Belinda Nolan, a spokeswoman for Victoria Police, told the Herald Sun no arrests had been made in Melbourne.

source: heraldsun.com.au

He’s not feeling so well. She’s sick today. They’re sleeping.

These are the words that shield the reality of mental illness in our community.

Tiptoeing around the issue is something that many in the Greek Australian community feel is necessary. They believe these words will protect the person from judgement, but more selfishly, also protect the family’s reputation.

Around 20 per cent of Australians are affected by some form of mental illness every year, yet many do not receive the treatment and support they need. Of these people, many still sadly succumb to their demons.

Every year, more than 2,400 people take their own lives in Australia, and sadly, the majority of those deaths are linked to some form of mental illness or drug dependency.

Suicide is not over represented in the Greek Australian community, but changing times and attitudes haven’t removed the stigma it carries in our community.

Clinical psychologist Jenny Makros has seen the affect and fears many of her Greek clients have with mental illness and says the community is suffering with stigma and thereby limit people’s ability to get the help they need. The affect on the family is also very damaging.

“There certainly is a stigma attached to suicide and often what tends to happen in our community it often tends to be concealed as something else because it’s got a lot of shame and blame attached to it,” she tells Neos Kosmos.

“Family members seem to take responsibility for each others wellbeing. They will automatically blame themselves.”

Ms Makros says the fact that the community is small in Australia means that the fear of personal problems getting out into the wider community sometimes pushes people to hide their issues.

“The fear of criticism being labelled and isolated can be problematic in small communities.”

A major contributor to this stigma has to be placed on the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia and the miscommunication between priests and the church’s official stance on the issue.

Neos Kosmos recently published a personal account of a family member who’s brother took his own life. The family member, SK* was horrified to hear misguided and judgemental comments from her priest about the issue of suicide in the Greek Australian community.

“I love to listen to the priest at the end of his service, when he tells a story or lets people know how to behave in our church,” SK wrote.

“This particular day though, after the priest in my church finished his story about a little girl who turned to prostitution at the age of 12 for 17 years, he ended his talk with a statement that suicide is not accepted in our church; not only that, but that it cannot be overlooked just because a psychologist provided a piece of paper.

“I was outraged, the tears came streaming down. How was this priest’s statement supposed make me or anyone else touched by suicide feel? How is it supposed to make any family members feel, who look to God to help them to get through this?”

SK went on to describe the stubbornness of certain priests in giving blessings or services people who have taken their own lives nor giving proper support to family members dealing with grief.

“If suicide is not accepted and the family calls to ask for some sort of blessing do you just throw them to the wolves, so to speak, and let them fend for themselves?” SK says.

“God’s door is closed and they are looking at hell.”

The priest’s view contradicts the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia’s official view on dealing with suicide says the Bishop Ezekiel of Dervis.
“These are such tragic moments that the church cannot remain uninvolved,” he tells Neos Kosmos.

“The faith of the church isn’t determined by a priest or by a monk. The faith of the church is general and in this case we do not exclude the burial of suicides.”

Although the church still believes the act of suicide is a sin, it does not restrict religious services.

Bishop Ezekiel says he condemns the comments of the priest SK described and says the church advises all their priests on the issue.

“We as a central principle of the church give instructions to priests and they always turn to us and ask questions,” he says.

He believes that difference in opinion has distorted the official view of the Church.

“Sometimes priest are lured by what monks who have blocked communication with society have written about. They don’t see human suffering and say what they want to say.”

This lack of clarity leaves priests still uncertain about how to deal with suicide, and lacking in how to help families with their grief.

Misconceptions still exist especially from first generations Greeks who have seen the way the Church in Greece deals with the act of suicide. Many priests denied giving burials to people who have taken their own lives, with families forced to burry their loved ones outside their home towns.
In response to SK’s personal account, our readers felt compelled to tell their stories and voice their concerns on the Church’s previous actions.
Anna Kar describes an incident many years ago where a family she knew was denied a funeral service for their loved one until another reason was put forth as the death.

“They were at first denied a church service and burial due to the event of the boy’s death,” she writes on Neos Kosmos’ Facebook.

“Then discussion between the parents and priest we’re had and the service and burial at the church was conducted.

“I believe another excuse for death was used to conduct the service. I remember feeling disgusted and disheartened at the churches view on suicide.”
The Archdiocese in Australia doesn’t advertise its position on the issue to show that they are not accepting of the act.

Σύμφωνα με δημοσίευμα της «La Tribune».

Στις πρόσφατες συμφωνίες που υπέγραψε η Ελλάδα για την έρευνα και εκμετάλλευση υδρογονανθράκων στα δυτικά της χώρας, και για επενδύσεις ύψους 700 εκ ευρώ, που θα μπορούσαν να προσφέρουν έσοδα έως 150 δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ για τα επόμενα 30 χρόνια, αναφέρεται άρθρο στην ιστοσελίδα της γαλλικής εφημερίδας La Tribune.

Ο πρωθυπουργός, Αντώνης Σαμαράς, υποσχέθηκε ότι τα επόμενα 30 χρόνια η χώρα θα έχει φορολογικά έσοδα ύψους 150 δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ από την εκμετάλλευση των υδρογονανθράκων, σημειώνει το άρθρο.

Σύμφωνα με την “La Tribune”, οι έρευνες αυτές θα μπορούσαν να οδηγήσουν στην ανακάλυψη περίπου 300 εκ βαρελιών πετρελαίου.
Οι περιοχές που περιλαμβάνονται στην έρευνα είναι η Ήπειρος και το Ιόνιο.

Το Υπουργείο Ενέργειας και Περιβάλλοντος εκτιμά ότι τα επόμενα 15 χρόνια τα έσοδα του κράτους μπορεί να ανέλθουν σε 18 δισεκατομμύρια ευρώ.
Η Ελλάδα ξεκίνησε να ερευνά τη δυνατότητα εκμετάλλευσης υδρογονανθράκων των 2010 σημειώνει το άρθρο.

Πηγή: Νέος Κόσμος

Tony Abbott has questioned the need for an emergency meeting of state governments over the federal budget’s $80 billion cut to schools and hospitals as he all but conceded breaking a promise over taxes.

The Prime Minister said on Sunday his government could have continued to try to “fool” people over the need for the federal government to tighten its belt but had decided Australia could not live on borrowed money.

Mr Abbott said that additional funding promised by Labor for health and education had never been accounted for in the budget as he stepped up pressure on the Senate cross bench to respect the government’s majority.

“We are happy to talk about different details with minor parties and independents in the Senate but they’ve got to accept that we are the government.”

Mr Abbott told the ABC: “We could have continued to try to fool people and say, ‘You don’t have to change’ but that would, frankly, have been pretending to people that our country could somehow go on living on borrowed money.”

“That money [for schools and hospitals] was never in any budget. It was a pie in the sky promise by a Labor government that knew it wouldn’t be around to deliver on it.”

State premiers are expected to call on the federal government to delay cuts to hospitals and schools until 2018 at their meeting in

Sydney on Sunday.

But Mr Abbott said that there was three years until the slow down in funding growth would take place and that he had been “absolutely upfront” with the states.

“This idea there is some kind of emergency because things are going to have to be adjusted in three years’ time is not right,” he said.

“We always said we weren’t bound by those agreements [between the states and the former Labor government] in the out years. The first of the out years has come on to the budget. We have said to the states, ‘We will continue to increase your funding but not at the same unaffordable rate Labor was promising’.”

Before the election, the Coalition promised there would be no cuts to education, health or pensions, no new or increased taxes and no cuts to the ABC or SBS.

Asked on Sunday to admit that his government had broken those promises, Mr Abbott said it was for Australians to judge if he had kept his word.

“ I believe we have fundamentally kept faith with the promises we made pre-election. Yes, I accept that the deficit levy will impact on the top 3 per cent of taxpayers. Yes, I accept that the fuel excise indexation will cost in the first year the average family 40 cents a week. I accept all of that,” he said.

“But we did say that we were going to get the budget back under control and I believe that this was what the people of Australia elected us to do.”

Mr Abbott said he was not proposing the GST should rise to cover the looming shortfall in funding to state budgets.

The Opposition treasury spokesman, Chris Bowen, told Sky News on Sunday the ALP would engage in the coming debate about possible changes to the GST.

“We’re more than happy to have a debate,” he said.

But Mr Bowen added: “We don’t support broadening the base or increasing the rate [of the GST].”

The former treasurer said he had considered a deficit levy for “about seven seconds” in government but ruled it out as it was not good policy.

However, he signalled Labor would allow the measure to be brought in by the Abbott government.

source: smh.com.au

NSW Premier Mike Baird will host an emergency meeting of state and territory leaders today to discuss their response to the federal government’s budget.

Among the main issues for discussion will be the seven dollar co-payment proposal and their broader response to the federal government’s 80 billion dollar cuts to schools and hospitals over the next 10 years.

The NSW government has flagged the idea of asking GPs to work from hospitals, that way allowing patients to dodge the federal government’s proposed scheme.

Federal opposition treasury spokesman Chris Bowen says the idea is ‘extraordinary’ and shows the anger of the community and state governments over the health care tax unveiled in Tuesday’s budget.

Protesters are also set to voice their anger over the federal budget, with rallies planned in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.Other events are planned for Melbourne, Hobart and Brisbane.

source: skynews.com.au

Arjen Robben proved the hero for Bayern Munich again in a major final and once more the villain for Borussia Dortmund, with the Dutchman getting the crucial breakthrough in the DFB-Pokal final deep into extra time.

It was Robben’s fifth goal in as many finals and came a year after his late, late goal downed Bayern’s great domestic rivals in the final of the Champions League. Thomas Muller added a second in the dying seconds to seal the trophy for Bayern, but it was Robben’s intervention that was decisive. Dortmund might also reflect that the referee’s lack of intervention had been key when not awarding them a goal in the second half after a header from Mats Hummels appeared to have clearly crossed the line.

Although there was to be no repeat of the treble this season for Bayern, lifting the German Cup means Pep Guardiola can reflect on what has overall been a hugely positive first season in charge, having also won the Bundesliga at a record early point in the campaign.

In both competitions their nearest challengers have been Dortmund, but in contrast to the 19 points that separated the two teams in the league, the margin was far smaller in Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Featuring two attack-minded teams who have tended to produce a healthy amount of goals in their recent meetings, it was a match of surprisingly few chances. Guardiola’s switch to a three-man back line was quite possibly designed to prevent their defense being exposed as it was in the Champions League by Real Madrid and by Dortmund in a 3-0 Bundesliga win just a month ago.

The man brought into the side at right wing-back for only his fourth start for the club, 18-year-old Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had the game’s first opening a minute before half-time but drilled a shot wide from the edge of the box. Seconds later, Robert Lewandowski, in the bizarre scenario of playing his final match for Dortmund against the team he’s poised to join, blasted over with his best chance of the contest.

The game’s moment of controversy came just past the hour mark. Hummels, who may have been marginally offside, directed a header at goal from close range and replays suggested that it had crossed the goalline before Dante cleared it to safety.

As the contest wore on it became increasingly end-to-end. Still there was no breakthrough. A Bayern breakaway saw Robben given a chance to fire at goal, but it was straight at Roman Weidenfeller whose large frame blocked it away. It was the same scenario in the opening period of extra time, but once again Robben was to have the decisive word.

The winger had just seen a tame shot collected by the Dortmund goalkeeper when Weidenfeller’s quick throw caught out Kevin Grosskreutz, allowing Jerome Boateng to get clear down the right. His low cross missed out everyone in the middle until Robben controlled a shot toward goal at the back post and Weidenfeller couldn’t adjust his legs quickly enough to prevent it going off him and agonizingly over the line.

Dortmund pushed for an equalizer and came agonizingly close when Marco Reus’ goal-bound shot deflected off Boateng and just over the bar. Bayern, though, ensured their victory as Muller broke clear, rounded Weidenfeller and tucked the ball into the net.

source: ibtimes.com

Συνοδεία των Θουμπιθαρέτα, Μπαρτομέου και Μέστρε εμφανίστηκε ο Τάτα Μαρτίνο στην συνέντευξη Τύπου μετά το ματς με την Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης, όπου ανακοίνωσε την αποχώρηση του από το πόστο του τεχνικού της Μπαρτσελόνα.

Η Μπαρτσελόνα έμεινε στο 1-1 στο “Καμπ Νόου” με αντίπαλο την Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης, που με αυτό το αποτέλεσμα στέφθηκε πρωταθλήτρια Ισπανίας στην τελευταία αγωνιστική της Primera Division.

Ανατριχιαστικές σκηνές στο Καμπ Νου με το καταλανικό κοινό να χειροκροτεί τη νέα πρωταθλήτρια. Η Ατλέτικο με το 1-1 κατέκτησε την Πριμέρα μετά από 18 χρόνια στη πιο μεγάλη μέρα του πολέμου στην Ισπανία.

Ένα πρωτάθλημα, ένα ματς, 90 λεπτά που έκριναν έναν τίτλο. Όπως και να χει μετά από χρόνια αυτό είναι το ματς που θα μνημονεύεται. Όχι μόνο για το σπάσιμο μιας τρομακτικής παράδοσης που ήθελε διαδοχικά τα μεγαθήρια να κατακτούν εναλλάξ τον τίτλο. Όχι μόνο γι αυτό καθαυτό, το τεράστιο δημιούργημα-επίτευγμα του Σιμεόνε. Αλλά ακόμα και γι αυτές τις σκηνές που καταγράφηκαν στο Καμπ Νου με το σφύριγμα της λήξης. Πηγαίο, αυθόρμητο, ανεπιτήδευτο χειροκρότημα στη νέα βασίλισσα του ισπανικού ποδοσφαίρου. Όλα τα πρόσωπα, οι μεγάλοι πρωταγωνιστές, νικητές και ηττημένοι προκάλεσαν αυτό που ανθρώπινα αποκαλούμε ΑΝΑΤΡΙΧΙΛΑ. Ό,τι κι αν υποστηρίζουμε. Στο τέλος το ποδόσφαιρο σε κερδίζει! Δεν υπάρχει κάτι άλλο… Η Ατλέτικο με την ισοπαλία είναι πρωταθλήτρια μετά από 18 χρόνια. Το κλισέ με την αξία του ηττημένου και την αναπόφευκτη δόξα στον νικητή δεν μπορεί παρά να υπερισχύσει στην πιο ενδιαφέρουσα Πριμέρα Ντιβισιόν των τελευταίων ετών. Οι ροχιμπλάνκος σφράγισαν με αίμα την πρώτη μεγάλη υπέρβαση και πλέον έχουν μία (υπερπολύτιμη) εβδομάδα ανασύνταξης πριν από τον τελικό του Τσάμπιονς Λιγκ.

Με 4-4-2 η Ατλέτικο του Σιμεόνε απέναντι στο 4-4-3 του Μαρτίνο. Το κατάμεστο Καμπ Νου ντυμένο στα χρώματα του πολέμου υποδέχτηκε με όλες τις τιμές την ομάδα αποκάλυψη της εφετινής χρονιάς στην πιο μεγάλη μέρα του πολέμου για την Πριμέρα. Καθοριστικές για το ματς οι δύο αναγκαστικές αλλαγές, σε πολύ πρώιμο στάδιο για την ομάδα του Σιμέονε. Πρώτα ο Ντιέγκο Κόστα σωριάστηκε απογητευμένος στο έδαφος για να πάρει τη θέση του ο Αντριάν (15′). Σα να μην έφτανε το πρώτο χτύπημα η απογοήτευση ήρθε να θριονιαστεί στο πρόσωπο του Αργεντινού τεχνικού όταν είδε τον Αρντά να αποχωρεί. Στη θέση του πέρασε τον Ραούλ Γκαρθία. Πάντως, παρά το ασυνήθιστα βαρύ χτύπημα της τύχης, η Ατλέτικο είχε επιβάλλει τους νόμους που χρειαζόταν στο ματς. Ανελέητο πρέσινγκ, δρόμοι ασφυκτικά στενοί, ο Μέσι εκτός παιχνιδιού για 30 λεπτά αγώνα. Σε όλα αυτά προσθέστε και την καλύτερη επίθεση του αγώνα με τον Πικέ να διώχνει τελευταία στιγμή πριν ένα (κίτρινο) κεφάλι ή ένα πόδι σπρώξει την μπάλα στα δίχτυα. Η …εγκλωβισμένη Μπάρτσα είχε αρχίσει να ψάχνει ακόμα και τις σέντρες. Από μία τέτοια βαθειά μπαλιά του Άλβες ο Πέδρο απείλησε τον Κουρτουά με το κεφάλι (26′). Η δύσκολη εξίσωση θα λυνόταν από κάτι απρόβλεπτο. Το έπραξε ο Αλέξις Σάντσες με τον πιο εμφατικό και συνάμα δύσκολο τρόπο. Ο Μέσι έστρωσε με το στήθος και ο Σάντσες με κεραυνό πέρασε τη μπάλα από το μάτι της βελόνας (33′). Καταπληκτικό γκολ που ισοδυναμούσε με προβάδισμα πρωταθλήματος. Πίεσε μέχρι το τέλος του πρώτου μέρους η Ατλέτικο αλλά δεν κατάφερε να φτιάξει τη μεγάλη φάση. Η θηλειά έμοιαζε καλά περασμένη στο λαιμό της…

Αυτή τη θηλειά έδειξε αποφασισμένη να τη χαλαρώσει με τη σέντρα του τελευταίου ημιχρόνου στην Πριμέρα. Ένα 45λεπτο που νομοτελειακά ήταν και η τελευταία ευκαιρία της να κατακτήσει το πρωτάθλημα. Πρώτα το σουτ του Βίγια στο δοκάρι, μετά η καθυστερημένη αντίδραση του ίδιου παίκτη στο τετ α τετ και ύστερα το πολυπόθητο γκολ. Όλα αυτά μέσα σε τρία λεπτά. Από το κόρνερ του Γκάμπι, ο Γκοδίν έστειλε τον …στρογγυλό πύραυλο στην εστία του Πίντο (49΄)! Η Ατλέτικο πλέον κρατούσε την τύχη της στα δικά της χέρια. Πέρασε μια σχετική τρικυμία η αλήθεια είναι, χωρίς όμως να απειληθεί σημαντικά. Το πρέσινγκ κατέβηκε το μισό γήπεδο (ίσως και λιγο παθητικά), ο σκοπός που αγιάζει τα μέσα βρήκε την πλήρη του εφαρμογή. Ωστόσο, η εξαφάνιση του Μέσι καλά κρατούσε και χωρίς αυτόν, τον καλό Μέσι, η Μπάρτσα αποδείχτηκε ότι δεν μπορεί να κάνει θεαματικές αλλαγές στο παιχνίδι. Το καρδιοχτύπι έφτασε στο κατακόρυφο στο 70′ όταν ο Κουρτουά είδε την μπάλα στο βάθος της εστίας του. Ο βοηθός σήκωσε σημαία προς ανακούφιση των ροχιμπλάνκος. Δεν είναι καθαρό ότι η μπάλα έφτασε από αντίπαλο στον Μέσι, αλλά ακόμα κι έτσι υπήρχε συμμετοχή στη φάση από μπλαουγκράνα. Σε γενικές γραμμές υποδειγματική η διαιτησία του Ματέου Λαόθ, ήταν μία επιπλέον θετική συνισταμένη που αθόρυβα οδήγησε στο αυθόρμητο χειροκρότημα των Καταλανών μετά το σφύριγμα της λήξης. Παρά την πιστοποίηση της οριστικής απομάκρυνσης του τίτλου από το Καμπ Νου το Καταλανικό κοινό υποκλίθηκε στην μεγάλη αντίπαλο. Την Ατλέτικο που σκορπίζει εφέτος τρόμο στο διάβα της και πλέον έχει ΚΑΙ ΤΡΟΠΑΙΟ στα χέρια της…

Μπαρτσελόνα (Τάτα Μαρτίνο): Πίντο, Ντάνι Αλβες, Πικέ, Μασεράνο, Αντριάνο, Μπουσκέτς (57′ Σονγκ), Φάμπρεγας (76′ Τσάβι), Ινιέστα, Αλέξις Σάντσες, Πέδρο (62′ Νεϊμάρ), Μέσι

Ατλέτικο Μαδρίτης (Ντιέγο Σιμεόνε): Κουρτουά, Χουανφράν, Μιράντα, Γκοντίν, Φιλίπε Λουίς, Γκάμπι, Τιάγκο, Κόκε, Αρντά Τουράν (22′ Ραούλ Γκαρθία), Βίγια, Ντιέγο Κόστα (15′ Αντριάν, 72′ Σόσα).

Πηγή: mandata.gr

Diego Simeone’s side lifted the title for the first time since 1996 thanks to the defender’s second-half equaliser.

Injuries to Diego Costa (hamstring) and Arda Turan (pelvis) inside the first 25 minutes looked to have damaged Atletico’s hopes and Alexis Sanchez’s stunning 34th-minute goal gave Barcelona all the momentum.

But sloppy marking from a corner would ultimately cost the hosts, who allowed Godin to steal in unmarked and head in the all-important equaliser four minutes into the second half.

Lionel Messi had a goal ruled out for offside as the hosts sought a response, but they were ultimately denied by the visitors’ typically stubborn defence, as Atleti clinched the title by three points.

The title is Atletico’s 10th in the Spanish top flight and ensures they finish the season unbeaten in all six matches they have played against Barcelona.

And, although Costa and Turan’s injuries will reduce their chances of winning next week’s Champions League final against bitter rivals Real Madrid, Atletico will first be celebrating the end to their 18-year Liga drought.

Simeone’s men led the league by as much as six points in April but stuttered in the run-in, only to produce when it counted in Barcelona, who may have played their last match for under-pressure coach Gerardo Martino.

Passed fit to play despite pre-match doubts, Costa started alongside ex-Barcelona forward David Villa, while the hosts – who surprisingly left out Xavi – recalled Gerard Pique after he recovered from a hip injury sustained against the same opponents last month.

Any suggestions that Atletico would play for a draw were quashed in the early stages, as Miranda nodded a free-kick wide before Juanfran’s dangerous ball into the penalty area had to be cleared by Pique.

But disaster struck for the visitors in the 14th minute as Costa pulled up clutching his hamstring and was forced off.

The striker, who has scored 36 goals in 51 appearances this season, could not control his emotions as he broke down in tears on the bench. He would be joined by Turan nine minutes later when he failed to recover from a pelvic injury sustained in a collision with Cesc Fabregas.

Atletico’s double-blow gave Barcelona a boost and after a cagey start they began to create chances as Alexis and Pedro failed to convert headers after excellent crosses from Dani Alves on the right.

Pedro’s failure to hit the target from a free header was particularly disappointing, but Alexis sent the partisan crowd wild in the 34th minute with his outstanding finish from just inside the area.

Messi chested down a lobbed Fabregas ball and Alexis pounced, thrashing a half-volley past Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and into the top-right corner from an incredibly difficult angle.

Tempers frayed before half-time, with four players booked in the 10 minutes before the break and Atletico came out breathing fire once play resumed.

Villa was the first to go close, firing a left-foot volley into the post after beating Barcelona goalkeeper Jose Pinto with a quick shot on the turn.

The forward was then played in, but under pressure from Alves could not get a shot off before the onrushing Pinto cleared.

Atletico did get their goal four minutes into the second half though, as the unmarked Godin made the most of Barca’s flat-footed defence to score a towering header from Gabi’s corner.

Neymar made his first appearance in more than a month from the bench as Martino chased the game and, in the 63rd minute, Barcelona thought they had taken the lead.

Messi was the man to fire home an instinctive volley – which flew into the roof of the net from close range – only for his effort to be adjudged offside.

Alves had a fierce strike tipped over in the latter stages, but despite their late pressure, Atletico clung on and were applauded for their efforts by the Camp Nou faithful at full-time amid wild celebrations from the small contingent of away supporters.

source: goal.com