Wed | May 1, 2024

Real Madrid clinches record-extending 35th Spanish league title

Published:Sunday | May 1, 2022 | 12:10 AM
Real Madrid’s Marcelo poses with the trophy to celebrate the team’s La Liga title after a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday.
AP
Real Madrid’s Marcelo poses with the trophy to celebrate the team’s La Liga title after a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid yesterday.

MADRID (AP):

In a dominating season for Real Madrid, it was fitting that it didn’t even need its best players to win the Spanish league.

Using its backups ahead of the Champions League semi-finals, Madrid earned a record-extending 35th Liga title with a comfortable 4-0 home win over Espanyol on Saturday.

Players and coaches celebrated with the crowd at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium long after the match ended, then paraded to the team’s usual party spot at Cibeles plaza, but there was not a lot of time to rejoice. On Wednesday, Madrid is back at the Bernabéu to host Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Madrid lost 4-3 in the first match in England.

“We know we have an important match ahead of us, but today we have to celebrate,” said Brazilian veteran Marcelo, who reached a milestone with his 24th career title with Madrid, the most in the club’s history.

“We have to enjoy it, this could help us on Wednesday,” said Carlo Ancelotti, who became the first coach to lift trophies in the top five European leagues.

The Italian manager won with AC Milan in Serie A, Chelsea in the English Premier League, Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1, and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

Rodrygo scored twice and Marco Asensio and substitute Karim Benzema added on to give Madrid its second league title in three seasons, and third in six years.

MADRID FAR AHEAD

Madrid has an insurmountable lead with four rounds to go. It was 17 points in front of Sevilla, which drew with Cádiz 1-1 on Friday, and 18 points ahead of Barcelona, which hosts Mallorca on Sunday.

“This is how you win leagues,” Madrid midfielder Casemiro said. “We’ve done a great job the entire season, being consistent from the start.”

Madrid has nine more league titles than Barcelona.

It was a well-deserved title as Madrid got off to a good start and fended off every run by its challengers. It led after all but six rounds early in the season, being at the top since the 14th round in November.

The only question now is if Atlético Madrid will agree to give its city rival a ‘guard of honour’ before the teams meet at Atlético’s Wanda Metropolitano Stadium next Sunday.