Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema seal title for Real Madrid
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Updated 21/05/2017 at 21:26 GMT
La Liga, Estadio La Rosaleda - Malaga 0 Real Madrid 2 (Ronaldo 2', Benzema 55')
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane celebrates with his players after winning La Liga
Image credit: Reuters
Real Madrid clinched their first La Liga title since 2012 with a comfortable 2-0 win over Malaga, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema getting them across the line.
Zinedine Zidane’s side came into the title decider knowing a point would be enough, with Barcelona up against Eibar at Camp Nou, and it took the visitors to La Rosaleda just two minutes to find the opener, with Ronaldo racing through to round Carlos Kameni and finish into the empty net.
News filtered through that Barca were trailing to Eibar, but it had little effect on Real’s resolve, despite Malaga taking a stronger grip of the contest as the first half progressed. Barcelona eventually turned around their game to win 4-2, but it was irrelevant in the end as Benzema doubled his side’s lead 10 minutes into the second half.
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Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo scores during the Spanish league football match Malaga CF vs Real Madrid CF at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga on May 21, 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
The visitors never really looked like faltering at the final obstacle, despite the best efforts of former Barcelona player Sandro Ramirez, who was a thorn in Real’s side throughout. Now Zidane and his players will prepare for the Champions League final, where they can complete a historic double.
TALKING POINT - Will this herald an age of Madridista dominance in Spain?
It’s quite remarkable that before this season Real Madrid had gone five years without winning La Liga. For so long they have found themselves second best to their great rivals, Barcelona, but now everything seems to be in their favour. Will this title win herald a new age in Spain? Is this about to be Real Madrid’s era?
MAN OF THE MATCH - (Real Madrid)
“Isco’s title,” a recent headline on the front page of AS exclaimed, illustrating just how important the playmaker has been to Real Madrid in recent weeks. His future at the Santiago Bernabeu was in question not so long ago, but this performance underlined his quality. Isco has become the embodiment of Zidane’s Real Madrid. He’ll certainly be sticking around after the summer.
PLAYER RATINGS
Malaga - Kameni 8, Torres 6, Hernandez 7, Mikel 6, Ricca 5, Camacho 7, Keko 6, Recio 5, Fornals 6, Jony 5, Sandro 7. Subs - Duda 5, Castro 6, Charles 5.
Real Madrid - Navas 8, Danilo 6, Ramos 5, Varane 6, Marcelo 7, Casemiro 5, Kroos 7, Modric 6, Isco 8, Ronaldo 8, Benzema 7. Subs - Morata 5, James 5, Kovacic 5.
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Real Madrid's French head coach Zinedine Zidane is tossed by players at the end of the Spanish league football match Malaga CF vs Real Madrid at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga on May 21, 2017. Real Madrid won their 33rd La Liga title and first for five yea
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY MOMENTS
2’ GOAL! Malaga 0-1 Real Madrid: What a start for Real Madrid! They have the lead after just a couple of minutes! Ronaldo was released in behind by Isco, rounds Kameni in the Malaga goal and finishes into the empty net.
21’ WHAT A SAVE! Sandro struck an exceptional freekick from about 25 yards towards goal, but Navas was equal to it, throwing himself across goal to make the save to deny Malaga from finding an equaliser.
33’ BRILLIANT SAVE! How did that stay out? Benzema's low cross found Ronaldo, who cut inside and hit a left footed strike towards goal, but Kameni pulled off an astounding stop to deny him.
55’ GOAL! Malaga 0-2 Real Madrid: There's the second goal and that could be the biggest goal of the season! Kameni made the save to deny Ramos' initial attempt, but Benzema was on hand to finish from close range.
90’ OFF THE CROSSBAR! Castro found space inside the Real Madrid penalty area, but Navas made the save to touch the strike on to the crossbar. Inches away from a Malaga goal!
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Real Madrid players celebrate winning the Liga title after the Spanish league football match Malaga CF vs Real Madrid CF at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga on May 21, 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Real Madrid won their first La Liga title since the 2011/12 season.
- Cristiano Ronaldo became the second player to score 25 or more goals in eight La Liga seasons in a row, after Lionel Messi.
- Real Madrid have scored in all of their games in a La Liga season for the first time ever.
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