Real Madrid “deserved” a La Liga title on Saturday according to coach Carlo Ancelotti after beating Cadiz 3-0 and Girona sealed it with a stunning 4-2 victory over Barcelona. Ancelotti's side did their homework by beating Cadiz and after last season's champions stumbled against Girona, Los Blancos were crowned champions for the 36th time. Girona's dramatic victory saw the Catalan minnows qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history, in just their fourth season in Spain's top flight.
Ancelotti made heavy substitutions ahead of next week's Champions League semi-final clash with Bayern Munich, but his players were still able to get the job done.
Brahim Diaz scored in the 51st minute to put Madrid ahead and then set up Jude Bellingham, while Joselu tapped in a third.
“We have had a spectacular Liga campaign,” Ancelotti told reporters.
“We made few mistakes and the lead was deserved.”
Madrid's comfortable win over Cadiz left them fourteen points ahead of last season's champions Barcelona, who were in third place, with just twelve points left to play for.
Girona, second after their second 4-2 win over Barcelona this season, are 13 points behind Madrid.
“We leave our skin on the pitch to experience moments like today,” Madrid striker Joselu told Real Madrid TV.
“There are young players who are very hungry for titles, veterans who are happy to be here… and these are special moments.”
With Bayern's second leg in mind, Ancelotti only selected captain Nacho Fernandez from the starting line-up who earned a 2-2 draw in Bavaria this week.
Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois started for the first time after a nine-month break following a knee injury and kept a clean sheet.
Madrid midfielder Luka Modric became the oldest player to play for the club in La Liga at 38 years and 238 days, breaking the record set by late Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas in 1965 by five days.
The visitors, 18th and still fighting to stay up, shaded the first half, but Madrid's goals came in the second.
Courtois made a brilliant save to deny Chris Ramos early in the second half and Madrid took the lead immediately afterwards.
Diaz was met by the evergreen Modric on the edge of the penalty area, slicked and curled a shot into the top corner.
Bellingham, coming on as a substitute for Turkish teenager Arda Guler, added the second shortly after coming into contention following a good team move.
It was the England international's 18th league goal of the season, putting him in contention to finish as top scorer.
Madrid put the icing on the cake after an excellent run from Nacho.
The Spaniard was on the verge of leaving at the end of the season and was praised by the Bernabeu after setting up Joselu for an easy finish in stoppage time.
'Impossible to compete'
Los Blancos were able to celebrate after Girona twice came from behind to beat Barcelona in a wild encounter to finish second.
Barça took the lead after three minutes through a beautiful volley from Andreas Christensen, but La Liga top scorer Artem Dovbyk equalized just a minute later with his twentieth goal of the campaign.
Robert Lewandowski sent Barcelona ahead with a penalty after Lamine Yamal was felled, but substitute Portu made a huge impact for Girona in the second half.
Michel Sánchez's team scored two goals within two minutes and turned the match upside down. Portu scored the equalizer shortly after coming on and then set up Miguel Gutierrez to give Girona the lead.
Portu sensationally hammered home the fourth, setting Girona's small Montilivi stadium ablaze and getting the party started.
“The players have entered the history books of Girona, what we have done this year is incredible,” said Sánchez.
Girona played Champions League music over the stadium's sound system to give their fans a taste of what's to come.
“I want to play against Liverpool, I want a historical giant here, there are many, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Inter.”
For Barcelona, the third country, the summer will be more about self-reflection than dreaming.
“It's a shame, we sink with every negative situation,” Barcelona coach Xavi said after Barcelona lost the crown.
“It's impossible to compete this way.”
Elsewhere, Rodrigo Riquelme's early goal gave fourth-placed Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win over Mallorca, widening the gap to Athletic to six points.
(This story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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