Malaga 0 Real Madrid 2: Cristiano Ronaldo and Co win Spanish La Liga title on final day
Barcelona battled back from two goals down to beat Eibar at home but it was too little, too late from Lionel Messi &; Co.
REAL MADRID and Cristiano Ronaldo wrestled back the La Liga title from rivals Barcelona after five desperate years without Spain’s top honour.
Zinedine Zidane’s star-studded side finished three points clear after they beat Malaga 2-0 on the final day of the Spanish season and Barcelona scraped past minnows Eibar 4-2, after going two goals down.
Of course it was the Manchester United hero who took centre stage with the opening goal after just two minutes.
Master playmaker Isco carved Malaga open with a beautiful through ball for Ron to gallop after being rounding keeper Carlos Kameni and tapping his side ahead.
And moments later – 620 miles up the Spanish east coast – the Catalan side collapsed when Eibar ace Tkashi Inui volleyed past Barca stopper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Real – almost certainly having got news of Barca’s surprise scoreline – simply controlled the game for the rest of the half as they edged toward long-awaited domestic glory.
There was a flashpoint shortly after the break when Ronaldo was the victim of a heavy challenge that sent his shinpad flying.
Judging by his theatrics it appeared the Portuguese would have to be substituted, perhaps hospitalised and would miss the party.
But he recovered miraculously to carry on the charge and help his side get over the line with their second goal.
most read in football
Sergio Ramos almost fired home from a corner but it was Karim Benzema who eventually crashed the ball in after 55 minutes.
And there was another roar from the away end when the Madrid fans learned Inui had scored again to put Eibar 2-0 up.
Isco was subbed on 65 minutes and the home fans roared for their former player as they will land one million euros after inserting a title-winning clause into the deal when they sold him to the Bernabeu side.
Barca pulled level through an own goal and Luis Suarez strike - just when it looked like Lionel Messi’s side might make it interesting – the Argentina idol missed a penalty.
Messi made amends with a late brace but Madrid were already home and hosed with the taste of champagne on their lips.