Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid's Historic 2011/12 La Liga Campaign

The 2011/12 season marked one of the greatest campaigns in Real Madrid's history. Under José Mourinho, the club reclaimed the La Liga title after three consecutive championships won by Barcelona. Real Madrid did more than finish first: they set a new league record with 100 points, scored 121 goals, and finished nine points ahead of their greatest rivals.

At the center of the team's attacking success was Cristiano Ronaldo. In his third La Liga season with Real Madrid, Ronaldo scored 46 goals in 38 appearances, becoming the club's leading scorer and playing a major role in the title-winning campaign. From a six-goal opening-day victory to a decisive Clásico win at the Camp Nou, Ronaldo delivered throughout the season.

The Road to the Title

Real Madrid entered the 2011/12 season looking to end Barcelona's recent dominance of Spanish football. Barcelona had won the previous three La Liga titles, including the 2010/11 championship, in which they finished four points ahead of Madrid.

Mourinho's second season in charge began emphatically. Real Madrid opened their league campaign with a 6–0 away victory over Real Zaragoza, with Ronaldo scoring a hat-trick. An early defeat to Levante and a draw against Racing Santander showed that the title race would not be straightforward, but Madrid soon found remarkable consistency.

One of the season's most important moments came on April 21, 2012. Real Madrid traveled to the Camp Nou knowing that a victory would put them in a commanding position. Ronaldo scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory, giving Madrid a seven-point advantage over Barcelona with four matches remaining.

The championship was mathematically secured on May 2, 2012. Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 3–0 at San Mamés, with Ronaldo scoring the third goal. With two matches still to play, Madrid had officially reclaimed their 32nd league championship.

The final table shows the scale of Madrid's achievement: 100 points, 32 victories, and a nine-point gap over Barcelona.

Ronaldo's Individual Season

While Real Madrid's success was built on contributions from across the squad, Ronaldo's attacking output was exceptional. He scored 46 league goals, finishing behind Lionel Messi's 50 in the race for the Pichichi Trophy. Ronaldo also contributed creatively, providing 12 assists in The Ronaldo Archive's match-log data.

His goals came from open play, headers, penalties, and free kicks. He scored against every opponent in the division and consistently delivered in matches of different kinds. The figures below use the archive's recorded La Liga match logs.

Defining Performances

Ronaldo's season was not defined by one or two spectacular matches. Across 38 league appearances, he produced hat-tricks, decisive goals, and important contributions against direct rivals. The following 13 matches highlight different parts of his campaign. Expand each match log to see the recorded events and performance statistics.

Real Zaragoza 0–6 Real Madrid · August 28, 2011 — Ronaldo opened the season with a hat-trick away from home. His 16 shots and eight attempts on target made this an emphatic opening statement.

Real Madrid 4–2 Getafe · September 10, 2011 — Ronaldo contributed a goal and an assist, showing his influence as both a scorer and creator.

Real Madrid 6–2 Rayo Vallecano · September 24, 2011 — Ronaldo scored another hat-trick, including two penalties, as Madrid produced another high-scoring home victory.

Málaga 0–4 Real Madrid · October 22, 2011 — Ronaldo scored three times in the opening 38 minutes, completing his hat-trick before halftime.

Real Madrid 7–1 Osasuna · November 6, 2011 — Ronaldo scored twice with his head and once from the penalty spot in another commanding home performance.

Sevilla 2–6 Real Madrid · December 17, 2011 — Ronaldo recorded another hat-trick, scoring twice from open play before converting a late penalty.

Real Madrid 4–2 Levante · February 12, 2012 — Ronaldo scored three goals and provided an assist, contributing directly to all four of Madrid's goals.

Real Betis 2–3 Real Madrid · March 10, 2012 — Ronaldo scored twice with his left foot in a valuable away victory during the closing stretch of the title race.

Real Madrid 5–1 Real Sociedad · March 24, 2012 — Ronaldo scored twice as Madrid maintained their momentum at the top of the table.

Osasuna 1–5 Real Madrid · March 31, 2012 — One of Ronaldo's most complete performances: two goals and two assists, directly contributing to four of Madrid's five goals.

Atlético Madrid 1–4 Real Madrid · April 11, 2012 — Ronaldo scored a hat-trick and provided an assist in the away derby victory. His goals included a free kick, a long-range finish, and a penalty.

Barcelona 1–2 Real Madrid · April 21, 2012 — Perhaps the defining moment of Ronaldo's league campaign. His 73rd-minute winner at the Camp Nou gave Madrid a seven-point lead with four matches remaining.

Athletic Bilbao 0–3 Real Madrid · May 2, 2012 — Madrid clinched the title at San Mamés with two matches to spare. Ronaldo scored the third goal and had earlier assisted Mesut Özil.

The Significance of the Season

Real Madrid's 2011/12 campaign was historic not only because the club reclaimed the La Liga title, but also because of the manner in which they achieved it. The team finished with 100 points, becoming the first side in Spanish league history to reach that total. Their 121 goals established a new league record, while their 32 victories and 16 away wins further demonstrated their dominance.

For Ronaldo, the season was another major milestone. His 46 league goals made him Real Madrid's leading scorer, and he became the first player to score at least 40 goals in two consecutive La Liga seasons. His contributions came in different ways: he scored multiple goals against several opponents, created opportunities for teammates, and delivered decisive performances against direct rivals.

His winning goal at the Camp Nou and his goal in the title-clinching match against Athletic Bilbao connected his individual performances to the team's greatest achievement of the season. The 2011/12 campaign remains one of the defining seasons of Ronaldo's Real Madrid career: a season of records, consistency, and decisive performances.