Real Madrid are Spanish champions for the 35th time. Los Blancos secured the title with four games remaining on Saturday, beating Espanyol Barcelona 4-0. ÖFB legionnaire David Alaba was able to celebrate the championship in his first season after moving from Bayern Munich, but was not used on Saturday.
Austria’s soccer star only saw the game on Saturday due to problems with the adductors. For Alaba it was a championship title for the tenth year in a row. The 29-year-old Viennese had previously won ten titles, nine of them in a row, with Bayern Munich. The title is also historic for Marcelo. The Brazilian defender won his 24th trophy with Real, overtaking Francisco “Paco” Gento (at Real 1953-1971) as the most successful player by title in the club’s 120-year history.
After beating Espanyol Barcelona 4-0 four rounds before the end, Real can no longer be caught by the competition and thus dethroned Atletico Madrid as champions. As the current first pursuer, FC Sevilla is 17 points behind. Real, led by 25-time goalscorer Karim Benzema, scored by far the most goals (73) and conceded the fewest of all 20 league teams (29).
Victory number 25 of the season was safe. Rodrygo heated up the party atmosphere among Real fans with a brace (33rd, 43rd). Marco Asensio (55th) extended the lead after an assist from substitute Karim Benzema. After the supposed 4-0 by Isco (72nd) was annulled for offside after a VAR consultation, Benzema scored the final score himself (81st).
Ancelotti creates something unique
After the game, celebrations in the city were on the agenda, which should serve as a motivational injection for Alaba and Co. for tasks that still have to be completed. “A celebration like this can bring extra energy into the dressing room,” said Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “This season has been spectacular. Lots of regularity. constancy I have to thank the players for their work and attitude. Today we must celebrate, not talk. I want to party.”
“Carletto” was the first coach to become champions in the five so-called top leagues in Europe: Italy (2004/Milan), England (2010/Chelsea), France (2013/Paris Saint-Germain), Germany (2017/Bayern Munich) and now Spain . During his first term at Real from 2013 to 2015, the 62-year-old Italian was still denied the championship title.
For Ancelotti’s fourth Champions League title, Real must turn back a 3: 4 from the semi-final first leg against the English champions. It is still unclear whether Alaba will be fit in time for the second leg at the home Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday (9 p.m.). In any case, he would “do everything” to be operational, promised the Viennese, who played in central defence.
