Real Madrid have been crowned champions of La Liga after Barcelona failed to beat Girona.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side moved thirteen points clear at the top of table with a 3-0 victory against Cadiz on Saturday courtesy of goals from Brahmin Diaz, Jude Bellingham and Joselu.
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.
Real Madrid have been crowned champions of La Liga for the 36th time on Saturday
Los Blancos dispatched Cadiz 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, before Barca lost to Girona
Carlo Ancelotti has now won two LaLiga titles in three seasons since returning to Madrid
With the latest title, Real Madrid have moved nine clear of Barcelona in the all-time standings
Jude Bellingham is now a LaLiga champion in his first season in Spain
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.’
The league title is Real Madrid’s record-extending 36th, and the second for Ancelotti, during his second stint in charge at the Bernabeu.
While unable to immediately celebrate their victory on the pitch surrounded by their fans, the newly minted champions shared a video of the squad behind the scenes cheering: ‘campeones (champions), campeones, ole ole ole’.
Unable to celebrate on the pitch the players waited at the Bernabeu to cheer the win as a group
Real Madrid fans took to the streets of the Spanish capital to celebrate the title
Madrid could still complete a LaLiga and Champions League double this season
The champions’ loathed rivals were forced to share their congratulations after their defeat
Rivals Barca were forced to tweet their congratulations after full-time, sharing a curt message on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
Real’s win meant Barcelona had to defeat their Catalan rivals to have any chance of knocking them off top spot.
With the pressure firmly on, Xavi’s side got off to a perfect start at the Estadi Montilivi, with Andreas Christensen firing them in front after just three minutes.
Girona have consistently punched above their weight this season, and the City Football Group side immediately hit back after going behind and levelled through Artem Dovbyk.
On the brink of half-time Robert Lewandowski restored Barca’s lead from the penalty spot to take his tally to 24 for the season in all competitions.
The hosts seized the momentum after the restart however, and three goals in ten minutes provided the fatal blow for their opponents’ title hopes.
Substitute Portu provided the equaliser before former Real youngster Miguel Gutierrez fired his side in front with a deflected strike from close range.
Portu then doubled his total for the game to put the result beyond doubt, scoring an excellent volley from the edge of the box.
‘It’s incredible to look at your shirt and experience this. There is nothing more beautiful than living this,’ an emotional Portu told DAZN with tears rolling down his face.
‘I had a thorn in my side with 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 amends with the fans and I can smile again.’
Xavi’s side twice took the lead at Montilivi but were ultimately unable to avoid defeat
Robert Lewandowski scored his 24th goal of the season to put Barca 2-1 up
Former Madrid youngster Miguel Gutierrez fired Girona into the lead as they secured a 4-2 win
The full-time whistle sealed Barca’s fate to hand the title to Los Blancos with four games remaining, matching their Classico rivals’ achievement from last season.
Victory also confirmed a Champions League spot for Girona 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.