 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Real Madrid claimed a record-extending 36th LaLiga title on Saturday after Girona beat Barcelona 4-2, a result that left Carlo Ancelotti's side with an unassailable lead in the standings.
Real Madrid, who have lost only once in the league this season, hold a 13-point advantage over second-placed Girona while Barcelona dropped to third with four matches remaining.
Earlier, goals from Brahim Diaz, Jude Bellingham and Joselu earned LaLiga leaders Real Madrid a 3-0 win over lowly Cadiz, leaving them within touching distance of sealing a record-extending 36th Spanish title which they could clinch later on Saturday if Barcelona fail to beat Girona.
With four games remaining, Real climbed to 87 points and extended their lead to 14 points over second-placed Barcelona and 16 clear Girona in third.
Real manager Carlo Ancelotti made 10 changes to the team who earned Real a 2-2 draw in their Champions League semi-final at Bayern Munich on Tuesday, resting key players like Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Antonio Ruediger and Toni Kroos ahead of the return leg at the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
Ancelotti's second-string players proved they were up to the task as they secured three points for Real and kept them on course for the inevitable LaLiga title celebrations.
The match also marked goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' first start of the season after an ACL tear in August left him sidelined for most of the campaign.
Real almost fell behind after the break, with Courtois making a brilliant reflex save to block Christopher Ramos' point blank strike in the 50th minute.
The Belgium goalkeeper's effort sparked a quick counter attack for Real, with Luka Modric finding Diaz running up the left channel and the Morocco midfielder managed to slot in a perfect curling strike from the edge of the box in the 51st minute.
Diaz then assisted substitute Bellingham to score with a tidy finish from close range in the 68th minute before Joselu tapped into an empty net in a counter attack started by Real captain Nacho in added time.
"These are special moments," Joselu told Movistar Plus+.
"The season is coming to an end and our fans deserve all the best. We will recharge from what happened today with all the energy we can to give our fans a great victory (against Bayern) on Wednesday."
