Real Madrid have been crowned champions of La Liga for the first time since 2011-12, having defeated Malaga 2-0 at La Rosaleda on Sunday.
Zinedine Zidane’s side only needed a point to secure the title, having held a three-point lead over Barcelona, who defeated Eibar 4-2 after a thrilling game at Camp Nou.
Any slip would have been severely punished, as the Catalans’ superior head-to-head record against their opponents meant that they would have lifted the title in other circumstances.
Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, however, secured the points that the capital side needed to lift the title.
Zidane’s men have been playing under intense pressure since losing 3-2 to Barcelona in one of the all-time great Clasicos in April. Failure to win any of their last six fixtures might have been fatal, but the Frenchman guided his side to handsome victories over Deportivo La Coruna, Valencia, Granada, Sevilla and Celta before Sunday’s clash.
Madrid have won the competition for a record 33 times, nine more than their Catalan rivals, with neighbours Atletico lying in third on 10 victories.
Moreover, Madrid are also in place to complete a historic double, having reached the final of the Champions League. They will tackle Juventus in Cardiff on June 3, aiming to be the first side of the modern era to retain the trophy.
Agency Report
