Though Zinedine Zidane's side started quickly, Barcelona's result ended their chances, with the Portuguese forward withdrawn at the break to prepare for the Champions League final
Real Madrid made light work of Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor on Saturday but their Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired 2-0 win was not enough to wrestle the Primera Division title from Barcelona.
Zinedine Zidane's men went into their final match of the league season a point behind Barca and an early Ronaldo tap-in put the Catalans under pressure but, in Granada, Luis Suarez's hat-trick in a 3-0 win consigned Madrid to the runners-up spot for a second successive year.
Ronaldo's early effort was exactly what the away side deserved after a fine start and the Portugal star doubled his tally in the 25th minute, heading in with the help of a major deflection.
Ronaldo could have added another two before his half-time withdrawal were it not for the woodwork but he ultimately had to settle for a tally of 35 goals for the campaign.
Madrid produced a rather more lax performance after the break, perhaps a combination of Ronaldo's exit and Barca's lead in Granada, and Keylor Navas had to be alert to keep at bay Rober's header towards the end.
In the end, Zidane's side had little trouble holding on to a routine win but it was not enough to claim a 33rd league title and Los Blancos must now turn their focus to the Champions League final on May 28.
Madrid began like a team with a clear objective and their start was ominous, pressing high and pouring men forward with real intent.
Deportivo looked out of their depth from the off and Madrid's opener in only the seventh minute had an air of inevitability about it, as Gareth Bale breezed past Manuel Pablo and cut the ball back to Benzema, who found Ronaldo for an easy finish.
The home side offered little resistance and Madrid doubled their lead 18 minutes later, when Ronaldo headed a Toni Kroos corner in off Pedro Mosquera.
Deportivo were lucky not to find themselves four down by the half-hour mark but Ronaldo struck the post from a tight angle after beating the offside trap, before Stipe Pletikosa thwarted Benzema.
