La Liga Wrap: Real Madrid Claim Title, Messi Breaks Another Record

The La Liga title race is over, but Lionel Messi just keeps going.

Real Madrid sealed their 32nd league title with a 3-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. Goals from Gonzalo Higauín and Mesut Özil gave Real a two-goal cushion at halftime, and Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the victory with a 50th-minute strike.

The victory meant Real stayed seven points ahead of Barcelona, who defeated Málaga 4-1 away, with two games left.

Real manager Jose Mourinho has now won league championships in four countries—Spain, England (with Chelsea), Italy (Inter) and Portugal (with Porto).

Ronaldo missed a penalty in the 12th minute but made up for it by setting up Özil's goal eight minutes later. Özil returned the favor, assisting Ronaldo's goal with a corner kick in the 50th minute.

The goal was Ronaldo's 44th of the league campaign.

Messi, meanwhile, moved to 46 league goals with his hat trick at fourth-place Málaga. The Argentine slotted home penalties in the 35th and 59th minutes before capping his hat trick in the 64th.

Messi's third tally gave him 68 in all competitions this season, setting a new record for most goals scored in a European season. Bayern Munich's Gerd Müller set the old record of 67 in 1972-73.

Carles Puyol scored Barca's first against Målaga, turning home Andres Iniesta's cross in the 13th minute. Rondon equalized for Málaga 16 minutes later, but Messi put Barca ahead for good 10 minutes before the half.