MADRID: Real Madrid claimed a record-extending 36th LaLiga title on Saturday after Girona fought-back to beat Barcelona 4-2, a result that left Carlo Ancelotti’s side with an unassailable lead in the standings.

Real Madrid, who have lost only once in the league this season, beat lowly Cadiz earlier on Saturday. They hold a 13-point advantage over second-placed Girona while Barcelona dropped to third with four matches remaining.

Real now can turn their attention to a LaLiga-Champions League double as they get ready to host Bayern Munich in the semi-final return leg on Wednesday after snatching a 2-2 draw in Germany last week.

The club said that it will hold off on the traditional celebration of titles in downtown Madrid until next Saturday with the important game against Bayern coming first.

“We deserved this league title in every way,” Ancelotti said after guiding his team to the second league title and 12th trophy overall in his two stints with Real. “We would like to celebrate with all the fans, but they understand because on Wednesday we have a very important challenge. We want to prepare well to make the fans happy and we will celebrate the title together on Saturday.”

Ancelotti rotated heavily ahead of the clash with Bayern Munich next week, but his players still got the job done.

Brahim Diaz broke through Cadiz’s defence in the 51st minute at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday when the forward rifled a shot from the edge of the box into the top corner.

Season standout Jude Bellingham tapped in a second goal in the 68th, moments after going on as a substitute to put the result beyond doubt with his 18th league goal of the campaign. Joselu tapped home a third in injury time.

At the start of the season, Real appeared set to again play chasers to defending champions Barca after Karim Benzema left in the summer and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and defenders David Alaba and Eder Militao sustained serious leg injuries.

But Bellingham blossomed into a scorer on arrival from Borussia Dortmund. His goals, and leadership in midfield, combined with the dribbling, speed and goals of Vinicius Junior put Real well ahead of the rest.

Real only lost once in 34 rounds, beat Barcelona in both league “Clasicos” and dealt Girona a pair of lopsided losses in their two meetings.

“We leave our skins out there on the pitch to live moments like today,” Real striker Joselu told Real Madrid TV. “There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are delighted to be here... and these are special moments.

“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.”

It was an afternoon of celebration for Girona too as the win secured them a spot in Europe for the first time after they qualified for next season’s Champions League.

A brace from substitute Portu helped surprise package Girona to humble their Catalan rivals for the second time this season. Girona had also beaten Barca away in December by the same score.

Barca took the lead through Andreas Christensen’s fine volley after three minutes but Girona hit back a minute later with LaLiga top-scorer Artem Dovbyk heading in the equaliser.

Robert Lewandowski sent Barca ahead with a penalty after Lamine Yamal was felled, but substitute Portu made a huge impact in the second half for Girona.

In his first action after coming off the bench, Portu netted the equaliser in the 65th and Miguel Gutierrez scored from a rebound two minutes later to give Girona the lead. A stunning volley from Portu in the 74th minute secured the win.

“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.”

For Barca, the summer will be for self-reflection rather than dreams.

“It’s a shame, we sink with any negative situation,” Barca manager Xavi Hernandez, who last week announced he will stay in charge for another season, told a press conference. “Like this it’s impossible to compete.”

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid closed in on a Champions League spot after winger Rodrigo Riquelme’s early strike earned his side a 1-0 win at Mallorca.

With four games remaining, Diego Simeone’s side are fourth in the standings on 67 points, six ahead fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

“It was very important to win,” Atletico defender Axel Witsel told Movistar Plus+. “We wanted to win and stay six points ahead. We have to keep it up.”

Real Sociedad beat Las Palmas 2-0 to strengthen their hold on sixth place and a Europa League spot.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2024