Real Madrid become La Liga champions for record 35th time

Spanish giants Real Madrid won their 35th La Liga title on Saturday (April 30) as they take an unassailable lead over Sevilla, after a 4-0 win over Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Real Madrid have now become the champions with four games in hand as they only needed a single point to secure their title before hosting Espanyol. 

Carlo Ancelotti's side have now taken a lead of 17 points over Sevilla, who settled for a draw against Cadiz on Friday (April 29). This was Real Madrid's 25th La Liga win of the 2021-22 season, in total they have 6 draws and 3 losses to their name in the journey to lift the La Liga title.

Brazilian fullback Marcelo becomes today the most decorated Real Madrid player of all-time with 24 titles. Incredible achievement. #RealMadrid

His contract runs out in June but no one will ever forget Marcelo - he marked an era. pic.twitter.com/FL4U0yXZBY — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 30, 2022

The win also made their Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France. Rodrygo's double put Real 2-0 up at the break before Marco Asensio added a third after 55 minutes and LaLiga top scorer Karim Benzema sealed the points in the 81st.

Captain Benzema lifted the trophy after coming off the bench late in the second half as Ancelotti rested several regular starters with Real hosting Manchester City in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday trailing 4-3.

Real have 81 points with four games to go. They are 17 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla and 18 clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand, and needed a point against Espanyol to clinch the title with almost a month of the season remaining.

It was a record-breaking day for defender Marcelo, who won his 24th piece of silverware with Real to leapfrog Gento as the player with the most trophy wins in the club's 120-year history.

With Reuters input