Real Madrid secured an insurmountable 13-point lead over second-place Girona with four games remaining, reclaiming the domestic crown by defeating Cadiz 3-0. Barcelona’s 4-2 loss at Girona ensured Madrid’s triumph, as only a victory by Barcelona could have prevented Madrid from celebrating.
Real Madrid, with an opportunity to further its achievements by aiming for its unparalleled 14th European Cup, faces Bayern Munich in the Champions League semifinal, with the tie evenly balanced after a 2-2 draw in the first leg. The winner will face either Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund in the final on June 1.
“Before the defeat against Barcelona, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stressed the importance of putting aside our joy, as we have a crucial game on Wednesday. We’ve had an exceptional season in the Spanish league, maintaining high consistency with few errors.” The advantage we have is deserved. We have to recover, rest, and play our best against Bayern.”
Despite setbacks such as Karim Benzema’s departure in the summer and injuries to key players like Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Eder Militao, Madrid surged ahead. Jude Bellingham’s arrival from Borussia Dortmund proved pivotal, with his goals and leadership in midfield complementing Vinícius Júnior’s contributions.
Having lost only once in 34 rounds so far, Real Madrid dominated the league, defeating Barcelona in both “clasico” matches and convincingly defeating Girona in their encounters.
Ancelotti made significant changes to his lineup for the crucial match against Bayern, with only Nacho Fernández retaining his starting position from the first leg. Brahim Díaz, Bellingham, and Joselu Mato secured the victory against Cadiz, with Bellingham’s standout performance further solidifying Real Madrid’s lead.
Meanwhile, Girona’s triumph over Barcelona propelled them into second place, pushing Barcelona into third, trailing Madrid by 14 points. Barcelona’s coach, Xavi, acknowledged the need for significant changes after losing to both Real Madrid and Girona.
Girona’s substitute, Cristian “Portu” Portugués, turned the game around, scoring on his first touch and setting up another goal to secure victory. Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski contributed goals, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Girona’s resurgence.
Courtois made his first appearance of the season after recovering from injuries, but despite a few moments of brilliance, Cadiz struggled to pose a significant threat.
In other matches, Real Sociedad defeated Las Palmas 2-0, strengthening their hold on sixth place and a spot in the Europa League.
