Barcelona will try and do better in 2016: Messi

Victory ensures Barcelona finish 2015 top of the Liga table; while Betis – who saw coach Pepe Mel sent off for protesting against the penalty decision – reflect on a fourth league game without a win as they remain in the bottom half.

The win took some pressure off beleaguered coach Rafa Benitez, who was jeered when his name was announced before the match by some of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd for Madrid’s erratic form this season. The tricky Brazilian has improved by leaps and bounds in the past 12 months and is now widely regarded as the best after the two extra-terrestrials at top.

Bruma levelled for an injury-hit Sociedad minutes after the break, but Ronaldo delivered when his side needed a goal once more to restore the lead 23 minutes from time before Lucas Vasquez added a late third.

The former Real Madrid and Brazil global striker Ronaldo said that Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is a more complete player than Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Bilbao side is tied on points with sixth placed Deportivo, who played to a 0-0 draw with Getafe.

The truth is Neymar may not win this year, but his emergence as a young, flamboyant, free-scoring forward with a knack for winning bodes well for the future of the Beautiful Game we all love so much.

“(Ronaldo) accepted the responsibility after the missed penalty and put the team on his back”, Benitez said.

From Betis’ misfortune the floodgates opened as a lovely one-two between Neymar and Messi allowed the later to tap home his 425th goal for the club.

Both Sociedad midfielder Sergio Canales and team top-scorer Imanol Agirretxe were carried off on stretchers in the first half.

The World Player of the Year made amends three minutes before half-time when he converted his second penalty after Yuri was again penalised for blocking Gareth Bale’s cross with an outstretched hand.

In Vallecas, Rayo keeper Yoel Rodriguez held Atletico scoreless until the 88th minute, when Angel Correa scored on a great pass from Thomas Partey. The winger continued to cause Madrid trouble until Ronaldo latched onto Marcelo’s corner kick and threaded a low volley through the crowded area an hour in for his 14th league goal.

A ideal ball from Jackson Martinez set up Antoine Griezmann to get the second goal in the final minute of regulation time.