Real Madrid became La Liga champions after Barcelona failed to beat Girona.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side moved thirteen points clear at the top of the table with a 3-0 victory against Cádiz on Saturday thanks to goals from Brahmin Díaz, Jude Bellingham and Joselu.
With four games remaining, Real rose to 87 points and extended its lead to 14 points over second-placed Barcelona and 16 over third-placed Girona.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti made 10 changes from the team that earned Real a 2-2 draw in the Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, resting key players such as Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, Antonio Ruediger and Toni Kroos before the second leg. in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
Ancelotti’s supporting 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.
Real Madrid were proclaimed La Liga champions for the 36th time this Saturday.
Los Blancos dispatched Cádiz 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu, before Barça lost to Girona
Carlo Ancelotti has won two LaLiga titles in three seasons since returning to Madrid
With the latest title, Real Madrid is nine ahead of Barcelona in the all-time standings.
Jude Bellingham is already LaLiga champion in his first season in Spain
The match also marked goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois’ first start of the season after a torn ACL in August sidelined him 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 shot in the 50th minute.
The Belgian goalkeeper’s effort sparked a quick counterattack from Real, with Luka Modric finding Diaz running down the left lane and the Moroccan midfielder managing to hit a perfect shot from the edge of the area in the 51st minute.
Diaz then set up substitute Bellingham to score with a classy close-range finish in the 68th minute before Joselu hit an empty net on a counterattack started by Real captain Nacho in added time.
“They 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.”
The league title is Real Madrid’s 36th, and the second for Ancelotti, during his second spell in charge of the Bernabéu.
While they couldn’t immediately celebrate their victory on the field surrounded by their fans, the new champions shared a video of the team behind the scenes cheering: “champions (champions), champions, ole ole ole.”
Without being able to celebrate on the pitch, the players waited at the Bernabéu to celebrate the victory as a group.
Real Madrid fans took to the streets of the Spanish capital to celebrate the title
Madrid could still achieve a LaLiga and Champions double this season
The champions’ hated rivals were forced to share their congratulations after the defeat.
Barça’s rivals were forced to tweet their congratulations after full-time, sharing a short message on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Real’s victory meant that Barcelona had to defeat their Catalan rivals to have any chance of taking first place from them.
With firm pressure, Xavi’s men got off to a perfect start at the Estadi Montilivi, with Andreas Christensen taking the lead after just three minutes.
Girona have always punched above their weight this season, and the City Football Group team responded immediately after going behind and equalized through Artem Dovbyk.
On the stroke of half-time, Robert Lewandowski restored Barça’s lead from the penalty spot to take his tally to 24 this season in all competitions.
However, the hosts seized the momentum after the restart and three goals in ten minutes dealt the fatal blow to their rivals’ title hopes.
Substitute Portu leveled the score before former Real Madrid youngster Miguel Gutiérrez put his team ahead with a deflected shot from close range.
Portu then doubled his match total to put the result beyond doubt, scoring a superb volley from the edge of the area.
‘It’s amazing to look at your shirt and experience this. There is nothing more beautiful than experiencing this,’ an emotional Portu told DAZN with tears streaming down his face.
“I had a thorn in this club. A few years ago I experienced the other side, which was relegation, and I felt very responsible because I played a lot. “Today I made peace with the fans and I can smile again.”
Xavi’s men took the lead twice in Montilivi but in the end they could not avoid defeat
Robert Lewandowski scored his 24th goal of the season and put Barça up 2-1
Former Madrid youngster Miguel Gutiérrez put Girona ahead and achieved a 4-2 victory.
The final whistle sealed Barça’s fate and handed the title to Los Blancos with four games remaining, equaling the achievement of their rivals from last season’s Clásico.
The victory also confirmed a place for Girona in the Champions League for the first time in their history, the latest development in the club’s extraordinary campaign after they only returned to the top flight in 2022.
