22 May 2011

Ronaldo leads rout of Almeria, Barca beat Malaga

10:59 am on 22 May 2011

Cristiano Ronaldo set a new La Liga scoring record of 40 goals in a Spanish football season and Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a hat-trick as Real Madrid destroyed relegated Almeria 8-1 at the Bernabeu, and Deportivo Coruna were relegated.

Newly-crowned champions Barcelona also wrapped up their campaign with a victory, coming back to win 3-1 in Malaga with most of their first team being rested ahead of next weekend's Champions League final against Manchester United.

Barca, who secured their third consecutive league crown last week, finished with 96 points from 38 games, four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, scorers of 102 league goals this term.

Portuguese forward Ronaldo only needed four minutes to pass the previous league record of 38 goals, bundling in at the far post from a Sergio Ramos header.

He also bagged the seventh in the 77th minute, running from deep and firing a long-range effort inside the far post.

Deportivo Coruna were relegated after a 2-0 defeat at home to Valencia, ending a 20-year stay in the Spanish top flight.

Deportivo, league champions in 2000, finished 18th with 43 points, one from safety, and joined Almeria and Hercules in the second division next term.