Cristiano Ronaldo took his season’s Spanish league tally to 36 goals by scoring a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed lowly Getafe 4-0 at home.
Ronaldo is now five goals ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi in the battle for top scorer. Not since Hugo Sanchez scored 38 goals for Real in the 1989-90 season has a striker been so effective in La Liga.
However, Messi will almost certainly have the satisfaction of a third straight league championship medal because Barca need just one more point from their last three games to clinch the title.
The defeat of Getafe left Real five points behind Barca. Messi and company will celebrate the title if they pick up just one point on Wednesday at midtable Levante.
Ronaldo gave Real the lead in the 24th minute with a perfect header to a clever centre from Mesut Ozil.
It was Ozil again who set up Ronaldo to make it 2-0 in the 58th minute, after Getafe keeper Oscar Ustari had foiled Real striker Gonzalo Higuain.
Supersub Karim Benzema made it 3-0 13 minutes from time, after controlling a through-ball from Xabi Alonso. All the night needed then was for Ronaldo to complete his hat-trick, and he did so from the penalty spot right at the end after being pulled down himself by defender Borja.
Tuesday’s other games all had relegation significance, with Racing Santander, Malaga and Deportivo Coruna all scoring vital home wins.
Santander beats Atletico
Santander came from behind to beat sixth-placed Atletico Madrid 2-1 with goals from Kennedy and Markus Rosenberg, while Malaga downed Sporting Gijon 2-0 on goals from Julio Baptista and Eliseu.
It was Malaga’s fifth straight win and practically guarantees their survival.
Earlier on Tuesday, Deportivo had battled out a 2-1 comeback over fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao 2-1, thanks to an equalizer from Adrian and an own goal from Xabi Castillo.
Former Spain playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron, now 35, who bossed the midfield for Deportivo, said: “It was crucial for us to win tonight, and we managed to do so. We had a bit of good luck with the goals, but you have to look for your luck in football.” Deportivo are now seventh from bottom. Malaga are now 10th, and Santander have their highest placing since 2008.
