Real Madrid have stopped Barcelona from getting their hands on the La Liga title until at least the weekend with a 6-2 win at home to Malaga.
Any dropped points for Los Blancos would have seen their rivals crowned champions, but an emphatic triumph at the Santiago Bernabeu has delayed that outcome for what would appear to be a few days.
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Raul Albiol headed in Luka Modric's corner on three minutes to put Madrid ahead, but Malaga were level 10 minutes later through Roque Santa Cruz.
The hosts could have gone back in front from the penalty spot midway through the half following Sergio Sanchez's foul on Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the Portuguese saw his effort saved by Willie Caballero after Sanchez had been shown a red card.
It didn't take Ronaldo long to score his 200th goal for the club as he found the net with a clever strike on 26 minutes.
Madrid extended their advantage soon after when Mesut Ozil capped off a dynamic counter-attack before Vitorino Antunes smashed in moments later to give Malaga their second goal of the night.
An entertaining first half came to an end in stoppage time as Karim Benzema tapped home from close range.
The home side made it 5-2 on 63 minutes thanks to Modric's long-range drive, while Malaga were reduced to nine men when Martin Demichelis was dismissed for his wild lunge on Ronaldo in the 73rd minute.
A torrid night for the visitors was made worse in stoppage time as Angel di Maria curled the ball past Caballero.
Jack Prescott
