Real Madrid won LaLiga on Saturday after a 4-0 victory against Espanyol gave them an unassailable advantage over Barcelona at the top of the table with four games remaining.
Rodrygo's first-half double propelled the champions elect to victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, before Marco Asensio made it 3-0 just after the interval. In euphoric scenes at the Bernabeu, Karim Benzema scored a fourth goal after going on as a replacement.
After winning the Spanish Supercopa in January, Madrid already has two trophies in the 2021-22 season. They'll try to keep their Champions League semifinal dreams alive in the second leg against Manchester City on Wednesday, behind 4-3.
🎉 #CAMPEON35 🎉 pic.twitter.com/j9Y2Hw6Eg5
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 30, 2022
Carlo Ancelotti, who returned to the club this summer for his second stint in command, becomes the first coach to win the title in each of Europe's "big five" leagues: Serie A in Italy, Premier League in England, Ligue 1 in France, Bundesliga in Germany, and now LaLiga in Spain.
"It's emotional," Ancelotti added. It's a significant accomplishment. We've had a fantastic season in the league, with a great deal of consistency. It's because of the players' hard work and dedication. Today is a day for celebration, and I intend to do so.
"It makes me feel proud. I enjoy what I do, and the five leagues [that I've won] indicate that I've done well. I'm honoured to be here and to have won trophies for Real Madrid, and I want to continue to do so."
Madrid has now won LaLiga 35 times, the most of any Spanish team, including 26 victories over Barcelona. Since 2010, the club has won four titles: in 2012, 2017, 2020, and currently 2022, during which time it has also won four Champions League crowns.
After predecessor Zinedine Zidane quit in June, Ancelotti was given the responsibility of deposing last year's winners and local rivals Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid landed the LaLiga title with a victory over Espanyol.
The roster was bolstered by the free transfers of defender David Alaba from Bayern Munich and midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes on deadline day, but there were two important departures, with Raphael Varane joining Manchester United and captain Sergio Ramos joining PSG.
The club started the season well, driven by strikers Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior, who have combined for 42 goals in all competitions, 26 of which have come in LaLiga. Madrid created an intimidating advantage while rivals Atletico and Barcelona battled to find consistency, and they have been on top of the standings since November.
Madrid has only lost three times in LaLiga since then: at Espanyol in October and Getafe in January, as well as a 4-0 home defeat to Barcelona in March.
Thibaut Courtois has been outstanding in goal when the team has been put under duress, keeping 14 clean sheets and conceding 29 goals, the second-lowest total in the division after Sevilla.
Madrid has balanced local obligations with a Champions League run that has seen them knock out PSG and Chelsea in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. On Wednesday, they will host City in the hopes of reaching their sixth Champions League final in the last decade.
"Maybe he didn't anticipate it, but when we phoned, he said he'd come sprinting," President Florentino Perez said of Ancelotti. He's worked with a number of clubs, and he constantly emphasises that the difference here is that the players are Madridistas, which is a positive.
"He has a lot of squad management expertise, and I think he's done a great job." It's crucial that he identify with Real Madrid, its ideals, and what it symbolises."
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