Real Madrid secure 35th La Liga title with dominant win over Espanyol

Real Madrid secure 35th La Liga title with dominant win over Espanyol


Karim Benzema (left) and Marcelo hold the league trophy after the game. Photograph: Mariscal/EPA


Guardian sport and ReutersSat 30 Apr 2022 17.12 BST





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Real Madrid secured their 35th La Liga title after beating Espanyol 4-0 on Saturday. Rodrygo scored twice, with Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema adding the gloss to ensure they wrapped things up with four games to spare.

Needing only a draw to guarantee glory once more, it took 33 minutes for Rodrygo to open the scoring. The Brazilian added a second 10 minutes later with a fine finish in a dominant display at the Bernabéu.


Asensio’s strike allowed Carlo Ancelotti to rest players as they prepare for their Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester City on Wednesday, before Benzema finished things off to leave Madrid uncatchable at the top.
Madrid players celebrate by tossing head coach Carlo Ancelotti in the air. Photograph: Chema Moya/EPA

Madrid’s triumph capped a remarkable milestone for Ancelotti as the Italian became the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues – England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.
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It was also a record-breaking day for Marcelo, who won his 24th piece of silverware with Real Madrid. The Brazilian defender leapfrogs Gento as the player with the most trophy wins in the club’s 120-year history.

“It’s an immense joy,” an emotional Marcelo told reporters in what is set to be the last of his 16 seasons at the Spanish club. “We have won as early as possible. Today we have to celebrate, but we have an important game ahead [against Manchester City]. If we do it right, there is nothing to worry about.”

Ancelotti, meanwhile, believes the celebrations will help lift the players’ spirits to fight back against Pep Guardiola’s side. “A celebration like this can bring an extra energy to the locker room … facing such a difficult task against a great team,” Ancelotti said.

“The season has been spectacular,” the Italian added. “Lots of regularity. Consistency. I have to thank the players for their work and their attitude. Today we have to celebrate, not to talk. I want to celebrate.”

Real next faces Manchester City at the Bernabéu on Wednesday in the second leg of the sides' Champions League semifinal.

The tie will be tightly contested after City won an entertaining first leg in Manchester 4-3.

"I'm proud [of the players]. I want to keep winning titles with Real Madrid," Ancelotti told Real Madrid TV. "Congratulations [to the players and fans], we'll see each other Wednesday. I'll say this to the fans, Wednesday we need this atmosphere."