Cristiano Ronaldo’s searing goalscoring form continued on Sunday as Real Madrid beat Malaga 2-0 to lift their first La Liga title since 2012, finishing the 2016-17 season three points ahead of arch-rivals Barcelona in the process. 

Madrid travelled to mid-table Malaga, knowing even a draw would suffice to win their 33rd league title, keeping hopes of a rare La Liga and Champions League double alive. And manager Zinedine Zidane sending out his best side with Ronaldo and Benzema leading the line for Los Blancos. 

Ronaldo powered home his 25th league goal of the season in the second minute itself, rounding Malaga keeper Carlos Kameni before calmly finishing into an empty net after Isco had slipped him in with a deft through ball. The 32-year-old Portuguese has been in sensational form since April, banging in goals for fun as the business end of the season approaches and his goal calmed any nerves the travelling Madrid supporters may have had before kick-off.

Malaga, to their credit, didn't let the early deficit faze them and grew stronger as the match progressed, enjoying a few chances of their own and tested Keylor Navas on several occasions. 

Former Barcelona striker Sandro Ramirez, now plying his trade for Malaga, was one of the bright sparks for the hosts on the night and came close with a free-kick in the 21st minute. But Navas was alert to the danger and scrambled to make the save.

With Malaga taking the fight to Madrid, the hosts were always going to be susceptible on the counter and the visitors should have doubled their lead when the in-form Isco set up Ronaldo, but the Portuguese’s close-range shot was saved by Kameni.

Malaga continued to knock on Madrid’s door, with a header from winger Keko just over Navas’ bar. But the visitors hung on till the interval with a vital 1-0 lead. And with arch-rivals Barcelona trailing Eibar 1-0 at the Nou Camp, it was always unlikely that the La Liga title would remain in Catalonia for a third consecutive season. 

Madrid doubled their lead early on in the second-half, with Benzema bundling home a close-range shot after Sergio Ramos’s effort had initially been saved by Kameni but fortuitously fell to the French forward. Malaga players vociferously protested for an offside flag and while replays suggested the Frenchman was perhaps marginally offside, the match officials stood by their initial decision.

Once the second goal was scored, the game got more and more stretched which led to more chances at either end but inspiring goalkeeping displays from Kameni and Navas both ensured that there would be no more goals in an otherwise engaging clash.

Elsewhere, Barcelona had gone down 2-0, but forged an incredible comeback with four goals in the final half-hour to win 4-2, but the result didn't have any impact on the larger scheme of things as Los Blancos were on course for their first league title in five seasons.

The celebrations started on the pitch as the full-time whistle was blown, but the capital club will be wary of going overboard right now as they still have the small matter of a UEFA Champions League final against an all-conquering Juventus side on June 4 to prepare for.