Mackenzie 
Real Madrid has clinched the LaLiga title for the 35th time after a 4-0 thrashing of Espanyol.
Two goals from Rodrygo, and a goal from Ascensio and Benzema saw that Real Madrid wins La Liga Title at the Bernabeu for the first time since 2017.
Blancos needed only to avoid defeat to give third-placed Barcelona no chance of producing a remarkable turnaround in the title race.
And they made no mistake against Barca’s city rivals on Saturday, Rodrygo doing the damage in the first half with a well-taken brace.
Marco Asensio made it 3-0 and Isco had a goal disallowed before Karim Benzema fittingly had the final say as Madrid claimed a 35th LaLiga title.
It mattered not as Madrid regained the title they lost to Atletico Madrid last season, Benzema’s 81st-minute effort too strong for Lopez to put the icing on the cake.
They will now turn attention to trying to overturn a 4-3 deficit to Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
What does it mean? Ancelotti makes history
The collective stumbles of Sevilla and Barcelona left the title returning to the Santiago Bernabeu an inevitability.
It has great significance for Carlo Ancelotti, who in his second spell as coach now has his first LaLiga title and he’s the first boss to win each of Europe’s top five leagues, having also won the Premier League, Serie A, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga.
Ruthless Rodrygo
Madrid, who have dropped points just nine times this season compared to 17 for Sevilla, 15 for Barca and 15 for Atletico, deserve great credit for their consistency and ruthlessness.
Espanyol had 20 shots to Madrid’s 11, but the hosts were far more clinical in front of goal. Rodrygo exemplified their cutting edge, scoring from both his shots while also playing two key passes.
Key Opta facts
Madrid won the LaLiga title for the first time at Santiago Bernabeu since 2007, when they celebrated being crowned champions with a 3-1 win over Real Mallorca.
– Los Blancos have gone 25 games without losing a home match against Espanyol (W22 D3), their best current run of unbeaten home games against a single opponent. They have kept a clean sheet in their last seven.
– Rodrygo has scored three goals in his last three LaLiga games, as many as in his 67 previous league matches.
– Asensio has scored his 12th goal this season in all competitions, his best tally in a single campaign in his professional career.
What’s next?
The Bernabeu will be electric when City visit on Tuesday and Madrid could then receive a guard of honour in their away game at Atletico next Sunday.
About Post Author
