GLASGOW, 26 May 2003 — Rangers won their 50th Scottish title when they beat Dunfermline 6-1 on the final day of the season to pip their great rivals Celtic on goal difference.

Defending champions Celtic, who won 4-0 at Kilmarnock yesterday, suffered their second major disappointment in five days after being beaten 3-2 by Porto in the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday.

The Glasgow rivals started the day on 94 points and with a goal difference of plus 68, but Rangers were top thanks to scoring one more goal — 95 — than Celtic in their 37 games. Rangers, who have set the pace in the league for most of the season, are heading for a domestic treble. They have already won the League Cup, beating Celtic in the final, and play Dundee in the Scottish Cup final on May 31.

Eintracht Frankfurt Secure

Return to Bundesliga

In Berlin, Eintracht Frankfurt secured their return to the Bundesliga yesterday with a 6-3 win over SSV Reutlingen on the final day of the German second division program.

The 1959 German champions and 1980 UEFA Cup winners, who were relegated two years ago, finish third to follow SC Freiburg and Cologne back to the top flight. Two other clubs, FSV Mainz and SpVgg Greuther Fuerth, had been in contention for promotion before the last round of matches.

Mainz won 4-1 at Eintracht Braunschweig to finish level on points with Frankfurt but fourth on goal difference. Greuther Fuerth lost 2-1 at Karslruhe SC and end up fifth in the 18-strong table.

Freiburg and Cologne, who finished first and second respectively, had already won promotion. Both were relegated last season.

The last four teams, Eintracht Braunschweig, SSV Reutlingen, FC St. Pauli and Waldhof Mannheim, drop to the amateur regional league — the equivalent of the third division.

Ronaldo Double Helps

Real Back to the Top

In Madrid, a classy double from Ronaldo helped Real Madrid to a 2-1 win over Valencia that saw them return to the top of the table on Saturday as title rivals Deportivo Coruna slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Celta Vigo.The results mean that Real lead the first division on 71 points, two ahead of Real Sociedad, although the Basque side can reclaim top spot if they win their match at Malaga the next day.

Deportivo, who led the table two weeks ago, are now in third place on 66 points, and with just three games left to play Javier Irureta’s side have to rely on major slip-ups by their two rivals if they are to have a chance of taking the title.Celta’s victory means that they gain the edge in the race for the final Champions League berth and move a point ahead of Valencia.

World and European Player of the Year Ronaldo lived up to his billing with a sparkling performance at the Mestalla.

The Brazilian opened the scoring on 26 minutes with a rare headed goal, lurking among the Valencia defense before nodding in a swirling Luis Figo cross.

A last-gasp penalty from striker Ismael Urzaiz allowed Athletic Bilbao to scramble a 2-1 win over Racing Santander and increase their chances of claiming a UEFA Cup spot.

The win keeps the Basque side in sixth place, four points ahead of Atletico Madrid who came from behind to claim a 3-2 win over Villarreal.

Lyon’s Title Official, Monaco

Pip Marseille to Second

In Paris, Olympique Lyon were officially crowned French champions again on Saturday despite losing 4-1 to En Avant Guingamp, while Monaco pipped Olympique Marseille into second to earn an automatic Champions League spot.

Lyon’s title was virtually secured on Tuesday after their 1-1 draw at Montpellier and only an avalanche of goals from Marseille, the only team that could catch them, would have prevented them from claiming their second consecutive title.

Top Ligue 1 scorer Shabani Nonda scored a hat trick in Monaco’s 6-0 drubbing of Troyes, while Marseille lost 1-0 at Nantes to finish third and make do with a place in the Champions League qualifying stages. Troyes, already relegated, will be joined by Sedan and Le Havre in Ligue 2 next season.