Ronaldo leads rout of Almeria, Barca beat Malaga

Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

* Ronaldo sets new La Liga scoring record of 40 goals

* Real win 8-1 and Barca come back to win 3-1

(Updates after Real win)

MADRID, May 21 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo set a new La Liga scoring record of 40 goals in a season and Emmanuel Adebayor grabbed a hat-trick as Real Madrid destroyed relegated Almeria 8-1 at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

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.

Adebayor, whose loan spell from Manchester City is expiring, signed off with three goals, Karim Benzema bagged two and youth team player Joselu notched one at the end.

Malaga struck first at the Rosaleda through Sebastian Fernandez but Barca levelled with a disputed penalty just before the break, Bojan Krkic netting from the spot.

The hosts had caused Barca plenty of problems in the first half but a long-range shot from Ibrahim Afellay and a header from youth team player Marc Bartra in the last 15 minutes sealed Barca’s 30th win of the season.