Five-year championship jinx broken with win over Malaga
Madrid: Real Madrid ended a five-year wait to win the La Liga title Sunday as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema secured a 2-0 win at Malaga which clinched a 33rd league triumph.
Barcelona fought back from two goals down to beat Eibar 4-2 but the result could not stop Real Madrid from lifting the trophy. Real Madrid finished the campaign on 93 points, three clear of last year’s champions Barca.
?Zinedine Zidane’s men only needed a draw to wrap up the title in their final game of the season and raced into the lead when Ronaldo latched onto a through ball from Isco to round Carlos Kameni. That goal ensured Real Madrid had scored in every league game this season.
Malaga had nothing to play for but made a fist of the game and it took a fine save from Keylor Navas to prevent former Barca player Sandro Ramirez levelling from a free-kick later in the first half and the striker also came close from a header.
Real Madrid also wasted chances to stretch their lead before Benzema bundled the ball in on the rebound in the 55th minute after Kameni had saved from Sergio Ramos following a corner.
There was a brief moment of concern when Ronaldo needed treatment after falling awkwardly from a challenge but the Portuguese, who scored for the fifth time in three league games, was able to finish the game, easing Real’s anxieties before the Champions League final June 3 against Juventus.
However, after the game Ronaldo let his mouth do all the talking. After the last game against Celta Vigo, critics had hit out against the No.7 player for his comments about the standard of Spanish football. But the talismanic striker had the last laugh.
“People talk about me as if I was a delinquent and they don’t know s…,” Ronaldo told ‘Marca’. ‘I’m not a saint but I’m not the devil either. I’m very happy because it was a spectacular end to the season, the best in many seasons, because of intelligent management, the help of the coach, and the contributions of those who played less.
“We know the Cardiff final will be very difficult but for now we will enjoy our first La Liga title in five years,” Ronaldo asserted.
Barca fell two goals behind in their final game of the season against Eibar as Japanese forward Takashi Inui scored either side of the break with two thumping finishes in off the crossbar. However, the Catalan giants fought back with the help of a double from the league’s top scorer Lionel Messi. The two other goals were scored by Luis Suarez and David Junca (own goal) inadvertently sent a loose ball into his own net after Neymar had hit the post.
Messi finished the season as top scorer in the league with 37 strikes, ahead of Suarez on 29 and Ronaldo on 25.
‘Happiest day of my professional journey’
Zinedine Zidane claimed Monday that winning the La Liga as Real Madrid coach surpassed his stellar achievements as a player and even lifting the Champions League in his debut season as coach last year.
Real Madrid claimed the Spanish title for a 33rd time with a 2-0 win over Malaga, Sunday.
“It is the happiest day of my professional life by a distance,” Zidane said after landing Madrid’s first title in five years. “Right now I would like to stand up here and dance,” he added in a press conference interrupted by Marcelo, Danilo, Casemiro, Lucas Vazquez and Alvaro Morata drowning their boss in champagne.
Zidane won the World Cup, European Championships and Champions League as one of the greatest players of his generation, but said the extra responsibility that comes with being coach made his achievements all the greater.
“As coach of Real Madrid you know what the expectations are. I have experienced it as a player and that is why I say it is the happiest day of my professional life because being a coach changes everything,” Zidane stated.
“I have won everything with this club, this shirt but to win La Liga is the best of all. I live what I am doing with passion and what I have enjoyed the most is today because after nine or 10 months of hard work we have won La Liga,” added the Frenchman.
After losing the Clasico to Barcelona in April Real won their last six games in a row. “The last six games, but for sure the last three have been key,” pointed out Zidane.
Agencies
