DERMOT CORRIGAN: Small margins as Ronaldo and Real on the edge of more glory

The LaLiga title will be decided on the final day again this year, with Real Madrid going to Malaga tomorrow night (7pm Irish time) needing just a point to lift the trophy, no matter what Barcelona do at home to Eibar at the same time.

Zinedine Zidane’s side have been in control of the title race for most of the campaign, and went three points clear at the top by beating Celta Vigo 4-1 on Wednesday evening, with a rampantly in-form Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice.

Although Ronaldo remains top scorer, and top dog, at the Bernabeu, Madrid’s success this year has been about much more than their star names. Zidane has bravely instigated a rotation policy which has shared out playing time and seen 19 squad members score in LaLiga this term. Over the 38 games, lesser profile back-ups such as Lucas Vazquez, Marco Asensio, Nacho Fernandez, and Mateo Kovacic have arguably made bigger contributions than expensive galacticos Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez.