By Our Correspondent
Real Madrid were crowned Spanish champions for the 35th time with a 4-0 win over Espanyol at home, thanks to an opening brace from the sensational Rodrygo.
While featuring a much-changed starting lineup, Real managed to keep the side from Barcelona at bay for much of the game and cruised to victory, despite only needing a draw to clinch the title.
In the third minute, Mariano Diaz had the game’s first chance when Luka Modric intercepted a poor Espanyol ball from behind, teeing up the Dominican. Real’s number 24 was slow to react, and his shot was stopped by a retreating Sergi Gomez, much to Modric’s chagrin.
Diaz then hit the post after meeting Casemiro’s looping header back across goal from a well-worked Real Madrid corner, while at the other end, Javier Puado and Raul de Tomas threatened to cause issues for the hosts’ makeshift defence.
Real Madrid took the lead with just over half an hour on the clock thanks to a superb Rodrygo strike. With a wonderful one-two down the left channel, the Brazilian linked with compatriot Marcelo, cutting inside and placing the ball past former Real goalkeeper Diego Lopez.
Rodrygo doubled the lead after Diaz dispossessed a sluggish Yangel Herrera, allowing his 21-year-old teammate to all but seal the title with an easy close-range finish. Espanyol were denied a penalty after a lengthy VAR check cleared Vazquez of handling the ball in his own area.
Diaz nearly sent the ball into his own net as a flick-on from De Tomas’ free-kick went barely over Thibaut Courtois’ crossbar after the break.
Real got a third goal when Eduardo Camavinga led a charge into the Espanyol half, expertly timing his pass to Marco Asensio, who hoisted his strike over Lopez. Espanyol were furious that they had not been given a penalty for a foul on Aleix Vidal in the build-up, but the game went for nearly another minute and the goal remained.
Vidal almost got his revenge, but Courtois saved his powerful near-post effort before Vazquez cleared Sergi Darder’s dink off the line.
Isco teed up Vazquez in the other box with a wonderful reverse pass, but his toe-poke rolled narrowly wide of the post.
Isco then took matters into his own hands to score Real’s fourth goal, scooping home a cutback from fellow substitute Karim Benzema. Rodrygo, on the other hand, was found to be blocking Lopez’s sightline from an offside position, and the goal was disallowed.
When Isco sent Vinicius Jr racing down the right flank, his pass back to Benzema was forcefully fired into the roof of the net for a fourth goal that stood this time as Real cruised to the title.
With with four games remaining, Real’s unassailable 17-point lead over Sevilla brings the title race to a close. Espanyol is still in 13th place, but even its players recognise that their performance today was mostly irrelevant, since the day belonged to Real Madrid.
The title win means Carlo Ancelotti becomes the first manager ever to win all of Europe’s top five leagues in England, Spain, France, Germany and Italy.
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