Real Madrid won their 33rd La Liga title and first for five years as Cristiano Ronaldo’s 40th goal of the season helped seal a 2-0 victory at Malaga on Sunday.
Ronaldo got Madrid off to the perfect start after just two minutes before Karim Benzema’s close-range finish sealed the title 10 minutes into the second half.
Madrid beat out Barcelona at the top of the table by three points as the Catalans’ come-from-behind 4-2 victory over Eibar in outgoing coach Luis Enrique’s last home game in charge wasn’t enough for a third straight title.
We analyse the performances of two key men involved in the title race: Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
Goals – 1
Shots – 3
Shots on target – 2
Touches – 42
Key passes – 2
Dribbles – 1
Dispossessed – 4
Aerials won – 1
Goals – 2
Shots – 7
Shots on target – 4
Touches – 79
Key passes – 3
Dribbles – 4
Dispossessed – 5
Aerials won – 1
Cristiano Ronaldo is the man for the big occasion. No doubt the city of Madrid was veiled by a collective nervousness as fans watched on as the scenes unfolded at La Rosaleda.
But within 90 seconds Ronaldo both silenced his season-long critics and dissipated any sign of nerves by opening the scoring with a predatory calm.
In the final decisive six weeks Ronaldo has been outstanding and he was no different against Malaga.
Zidane’s decision to rest him in the run up to the season’s end was a masterstroke because when it mattered most, Ronaldo has stepped up, fitter and stronger than ever.
A weird night for the Argentine at the Camp Nou. In the first half he was anonymous and he mirrored Barca’s display as they lacked any spark going forward.
After the break he missed a golden chance from yards out with the goal gaping, followed that up by missing a penalty before scoring his next opportunity from the spot and topping it off buy scoring one of the finest individual goals of the season.
So he missed a sitter, had penalty saved but still managed to score a brace and one of them was simply stunning. Indeed, it was an odd night for Messi.
2nd min: The Malaga defence dealt with a clearance terribly and the ball fell straight to Isco who slipped a delicious pass through to the alert Ronaldo who rounded Carlos Kameni and slotted into the empty net. It was his first touches of the ball, calm and precise. Vintage Ronaldo.
34th min: The Portugal international was denied by a brilliant reaction stop from Kameni. Isco slalomed through the Malaga defence before laying the ball off to Karim Benzema on the edge of the area. The striker burst into the box and squared for Ronaldo who managed to set himself to slam a low effort at goal only for Kameni to stop it with his legs.
55th min: Luis Suarez broke clear of Eibar backline and really he should have shot but he cut the ball back for Messi and as he maneuvered some space he tried to chip scrambling goalkeeper Yoel and he scuffed his effort horrible wide from yards out.
69th min: Jordi Alba looked to have kicked the turf and fallen as he shaped to shoot but the referee pointed to the spot – despite no Eibar player being near the defender. But justice prevailed as Yoel dived to his left to save Messi’s spot-kick.
74th min: Ander Capa’s sliding challenge brought down Neymar and a second yellow card for the Eibar defender and Messi stepped up again, planting his spot low to Yoel’s left but with just enough power to sneak through and put Barca ahead.
91st min: Messi then scored a simply sublime second as he took the ball just inside Eibar’s half, jinked his way past two defenders produced a well disguised feint to work his way into the area before coolly slotting past Yoel.
When the occasion calls there is really only one man to turn to. Towards the back end of this campaign Ronaldo has been outstanding scoring 14 goals in his last nine games.
In the last 12 months Ronaldo has won the Champions League, Euro 2016, Club World Cup, Ballon D’Or, La Liga and could win the Champions League again – an incredible haul and one richly deserved.
7/10
The top scorer in La Liga and soon to be winner of the Golden Shoe having scored 37 goals in 34 games, Messi has had another stratospheric season but ultimately misses out on the prizes which matters most.
After Real’s dominant performance the result at Camp Nou paled into insignificance but his solo goal will be one to play over and over again, even if the context behind it is irrelevant.
7/10
All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com
