Steve McClaren delight at FC Twente 'miracle'

STEVE McClaren heaped praise on his players and played down his own influence after leading FC Twente to a historic first Eredivisie title yesterday.

The Enschede club won 2-0 at ten-man NAC Breda with goals from Bryan Ruiz and Miroslav Stoch to finish a point ahead of Ajax. Twente finished the season with 27 wins and just two defeats from their 34 games, the title going a long way to restoring McClaren's reputation which had been in tatters following his sacking as England manager.

"It's more than a miracle," said McClaren. "I said at the beginning of the season I don't know if we have a team but they grew and grew and they deserve it."

Ajax put Twente under pressure until the end, finishing the season with 14 straight league wins, but Twente held their nerve in the end.

Elsewhere, Juventus will not feature in next season's Champions League after a 1-1 Serie A draw at Catania. Sampdoria stayed two points clear in the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot thanks to a 2-0 home win over relegated Livorno. Palermo won 2-1 at Siena to confirm the home side's relegation.

An 88th-minute goal by Cristiano Ronaldo maintained Real Madrid's Spanish title hopes by giving them a nervy 3-2 win over Osasuna. Leaders Barcelona won 4-1 at Villarreal on Saturday.

Alvaro Negredo's two first-half penalties led Sevilla to a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid.