MADRID — Champions Barcelona matched La Liga’s record tally of 100 points in a season when they swept aside Malaga 4-1 at the Nou Camp in their final game on Saturday.
Reuters
In his first campaign since replacing Pep Guardiola, coach Tito Vilanova’s side equalled Real Madrid’s points haul set under Jose Mourinho last season. BarÇa finished top with 100 points from 38 games, 15 ahead of second-placed Real who signed off with a 4-2 home win over Osasuna earlier.
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa scored twice in a 3-1 win at Real Zaragoza as the King’s Cup winners finished third with 76 points. Real Sociedad snatched fourth place, and the Champions League playoff slot, from Valencia.
Antoine Griezmann earned Sociedad a 1-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna while four goals from Alvaro Negredo helped Sevilla sink 10-man Valencia 4-3 at the Sanchez Pizjuan. Sociedad ended on 66 points, Valencia finished fifth with 65 and Malaga sixth on 57.
At the other end of the table Celta Vigo completed their escape act by winning 1-0 at home to Espanyol, condemning Real Mallorca, Deportivo and Real Zaragoza to relegation.
Celta finished on 37 points while Mallorca had 36 after a 4-2 home win over Real Valladolid. Deportivo, who had started the day in a safe position, ended on 35 and Zaragoza were bottom with 34.
At the Nou Camp BarÇa scored three times in the opening 16 minutes through David Villa, Cesc Fabregas and Martin Montoya as the hosts tore Malaga apart.
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Andres Iniesta curled in a fourth at the start of the second period before Pedro Morales volleyed a consolation goal for the visitors and their departing coach Manuel Pellegrini in the 56th minute.
Popular French defender Eric Abidal was given a rousing reception as he went on as a 75th-minute substitute to play his last minutes for Barca after the club said on Thursday they would not be renewing his contract.
Gonzalo Higuain, Michael Essien, Karim Benzema and Jose Callejon scored as an under-strength Real Madrid ensured coach Mourinho ended his three-year spell in the Spanish capital on a high note.
The Portuguese, who is expected to join Chelsea next week, left the Bernabeu amid divided opinions as he was cheered by some sections of the crowd and whistled by others.
