Madrid, May 16 (AFP) Portuguese goal machine Cristiano Ronaldo equalled the all-time league record of 38 goals with a brace in Real Madrid's 3-1 victory at Villarreal.
Ronaldo made it nine goals in his last three games with a 22nd minute free-kick and a last minute strike yesterday to stay on course to pick up the Pichichi trophy for the league's top-scorer.
Barcelona's Lionel Messi, his nearest rival, has 31 La Liga goals.
Ronaldo's 38-goal tally equals the all-time best record set by Athletic Bilbao's Telmo Zarra in 1951 and matched by Real's iconic Mexican striker Hugo Sanchez in 1990.
And he has the final game of the season to set a new record.
Newly-crowned champions Barcelona had their eye on the Champions League final against Manchester United on May 28 as they rested stars in a dull 0-0 draw against Deportivo La Coruna at Camp Nou.