Villarreal 1 : 3 Real Madrid - Ron equals scoring record

Cristiano Ronaldo matched the Spanish top-flight single-season scoring record with a brace in a 3-1 win against Villarreal - but left it late as he got his second with virtually the last kick of the game.

The Portugal forward fired in a free-kick three minutes into stoppage time to take his tally to 38 for the season, level with Athletic Bilbao striker Telmo Zarra in 1950/51 and Madrid's own Hugo Sanchez in 1989/90.

Ronaldo's first in the 22nd minute had made it 2-0 to the visitors after Marcelo's opener, and his second restored the two-goal advantage after Ruben Cani had hit back for the hosts.

The record was virtually all that was on the line as Villarreal's now extinguished hopes of finishing third were slim at best, while Madrid have already lost out in the title race to Barcelona.

But goals were clearly on the mind of Madrid as they pushed forward from the start.

Kaka had forced Diego Lopez to tip a shot around the post in the opening minute and they went on to score twice in the early going.

Kaka teed up Marcelo for the first, with the full-back lobbing Lopez to make it 1-0 after 17 minutes.

Ronaldo then fired home a free-kick from the edge of the area after Kaka had been fouled.

They continued to push forward with Ronaldo firing narrowly wide just after the half-hour mark.

The hosts were not seen as an attacking force until first-half stoppage time, when Iker Casillas comfortably held Marco Ruben's shot.

However, they needed only five minutes of the second half to get back in it with Cani finishing from close range.

Ruben then blazed a shot over the bar as they sought what would have been a shock equaliser.

But Madrid gradually gained the upper hand, with Esteban Granero firing over before Pepe nodded narrowly over the top from Xabi Alonso's free-kick into the danger zone.

Mesut Ozil brought another good save out of Lopez in the 71st minute, and the keeper also had to push Ronaldo's lobbed effort out for a corner as the pressure continued to build.

Madrid finally got the third they were looking for three minutes into stoppage time when Carlos Machena fouled Raul Albiol and Ronaldo found the top left-hand corner with his free-kick.