ANALYSIS-Soccer-Brilliant Barca leave rivals trailing

* Attacking football earns Barcelona title

* Former player Pep Guardiola architect of success

By Mark Elkington

MADRID, May 16 (Reuters) - Barcelona have blazed a path to their 19th Primera Liga title with a brand of irresistible, attacking football which none of their rivals came close to matching.

Real Madrid made a brave attempt to chase them down, in their own pursuit of a third successive league crown, but were cruelly exposed in a 6-2 battering at the Bernabeu two weeks ago that shattered their morale.

Real fell 3-2 to Villarreal on Saturday, gifting the title to their arch-rivals who do not play at Real Mallorca until Sunday, but that should in no way undermine Barca's achievements.

They have set a points record in a 20-team Primera Liga of 86 with three games left to play, and they are just four goals away from the benchmark of 107 set by Real Madrid in 1989/90.

Former player Pep Guardiola, 38, has been the architect of their success after replacing Frank Rijkaard last year, making an immediate impact in his first season as a top-flight coach.

Before the campaign started, he let the club sell Ronaldinho and Deco but wisely changed his mind and hung on to Samuel Eto'o, this season's top scorer in the league with 28 goals so far.