Real Madrid on brink of La Liga title

Madrid, April 30 (IANS) Real Madrid will have to wait till Wednesday night to be crowned champions of Spanish La Liga after both Madrid and FC Barcelona won their respective matches.

Madrid kicked off the day knowing that a win for them and a defeat for Barcelona against Rayo Vallecano would crown them champions with three games remaining in the season, reported Xinhua.

Madrid completed their part of the bargain with a comfortable 3-0 win against Sevilla Sunday. Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring in the first half, while two goals in three minutes shortly after halftime from Karim Benzema sealed the result by the 52nd minute.

Barcelona, playing their first game since Pep Guardiola's decision to resign as manager at the end of the season, hammering Rayo 7-0. Guardiola has led them to 13 titles in four years.

The Catalans stormed to a 3-0 first half lead thanks to Lionel Messi, Seydou Keita and a Robert Correa own goal. Pedro Rodriguez added a fourth early in the second half, Thiago made it 5-0 and late goals from Pedro and Messi (his 43rd league goal of the campaign) rounded off the win.

Madrid will now be champions if they win away to Athletic Club Bilbao or Barca lose at home to Malaga Wednesday.

Malaga remain fourth, but drew level on points with third placed Valencia courtesy a 1-0 victory at home. Ignacio Camacho's first half goal was the difference between the two sides, while Valencia had Sophiane Feghouli sent off 15 minutes from time.

Atletico Madrid paid for their Europa League exploits Thursday night and dropped two points to Real Betis.

Real Zaragoza, who defeated their rivals Bilbao 2-0 kept their hopes of avoiding relegation.

Racing Santander became the first team to be relegated to the second division after the 0-3 away defeat to Real Sociedad.

Sporting Gijon kept their hopes alive to avoid relegation with a 3-0 away win against Espanyol.

Sporting Gijon and Zaragoza both now have 34 points each and are three points away from relegation with three games left to play.