A 4-0 win over Espanyol at the Bernabeu secured Real Madrid its record-breaking 35th title.
Thanks to his triumph in La Liga on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti became the first manager in the history of football to win all five big leagues in Europe. The Italian is now a champion in his home country, as well as England, France, Germany, and Spain. Real’s 35 titles surpassed Juve’s Italian record of 34. The Madrid giants are now the most successful team in Europe’s top five leagues.
Real only needed a draw against Espanyol to mathematically confirm their title win four games before the campaign’s conclusion. But Ancelotti’s boys showed no mercy and put four goals past their opponents, as Rodrygo (with a brace), Asensio, and Benzema insisted to write their names on the scorers’ list.
Real then took to the streets in an open-top bus to celebrate as tens of thousands greeted the players around Madrid.
Madrid only lost three times in 34 games, winning 25 matches and drawing six. Last season’s champions Atletico are currently 20 points behind, in fourth place, while Real’s archrivals FC Barcelona sit third, at -18, but with a game in hand.
Ancelotti celebrated with his players and didn’t hold back from dancing or smoking in front of his players.
History in the making
The Italian manager was not the only individual to write history after Real’s La Liga triumph. Marcelo became the most titled player in Real Madrid history, reaching 24 trophies won during his time at the Bernabeu. The 33-year-old Brazilian left-back won six Spanish titles, four Champions Leagues, four Club World Cups, two Spanish Cups, five Spanish Supercups, and three European Supercups in the Real Madrid shirt.
“I like what I’m doing, I’m proud,” Ancelotti told Real Madrid TV after the win over Espanyol. “I want to continue winning titles with Real Madrid,” he stressed.
Real will not be able to party for too long. Manchester City comes visiting on Wednesday in the return leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Real lost 4-3 on English soil last week. Ancelotti asked the supporters to create an atmosphere as Real will push to come from behind and seal qualification into the final.
“I want to tell the fans that we’ll need a similar atmosphere against City if we are to go through,” the 62-year-old said.
The bookies don’t give Real too many chances of progressing. The fresh La Liga champions stand at +300 to advance, with City at -500.