Real Madrid found true grit in run to LaLiga title

MADRID, Spain – Real Madrid ended up winning the 2021-2022 LaLiga title in dominant fashion, despite struggling at the beginning of the season and taking months to claim top spot in the standings.

It wasn’t until mid-November when Carlo Ancelotti’s team managed to leapfrog Real Sociedad atop the league, putting into perspective how remarkable their mid-to-late season run has been.

They clinched their 35th Spanish league title with almost a month of the season remaining following their 4-0 home win over Espanyol on Saturday, April 30, and can reach their 17th Champions League final if they beat Manchester City this week.

Real hold a 17-point advantage over second-placed Sevilla and with four games remaining are close to breaking the record for the highest point difference of a title-winning side in LaLiga, held by Tito Vilanova’s Barcelona in 2012-13 who won the title 15 points ahead of Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.

Real Madrid claimed the title on Saturday after two first-half goals from Rodrygo spurred them to a 4-0 thrashing of mid-table Espanyol in front of the jubilant home fans at a packed Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

The win also made their Italian coach 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 semifinal 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.

“It’s an immense joy,” an emotional Marcelo told reporters in what is set to be the last of the 33-year-old’s 16 seasons at the Spanish club.

“We have won as early as possible, and that is everyone’s job to be celebrated”, Marcelo added, with the players looking towards the clash with Manchester City next week.

“Today we have to celebrate, but we have an important game ahead. If we do it right, there is nothing to worry about.”

It has been an unusual season for Real as they were questioned by pundits even when they were claiming victories and widening the gap against their closest rivals.

Real were never perfect during their incredible run and won’t be remembered as the most spectacular or flamboyant champions.

However, they had grit and persistence, earning six of their last nine league wins with goals scored late in the second half, some in breathtaking fashion like coming from two goals down to win 3-2 at Sevilla two weeks ago. That win had the double effect of taking Julen Lopetegui’s team out of the title race.

True grit was also in full display in the Champions League, when the 13-time European champions fought back to beat both Paris St Germain and Chelsea to reach the semifinals.

In a year that Barcelona and holders Atletico Madrid struggled with inconsistency, Ancelotti’s biggest virtue was keeping things simple and relying on individual talents.

The coach needed patience to handle a locker room full of veterans that were believed to have passed their prime and young prospects that were still to reach their full potential.

After a slow start to the season, his side were gaining momentum as the months passed with Ancelotti building a defensive team that were willing to play on the counter.

Karim Benzema has had a stellar year scoring 42 goals in 42 games in all competitions so far, also helping to unleash the potential of 21-year-old winger Vinicius Jr.

Luka Modric, 36, belied his age to prove instrumental against PSG and Chelsea, hitting game-changing passes to set up Benzema and Vinicius.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has helped keep Real alive on the big occasions, aided by defenders David Alaba and 24-year-old Eder Militao, who have both excelled.

Casemiro continues to be rock solid in the middle of the pitch and Rodrygo, Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde have all had a breakout season showing that they are ready to be a major part of the club’s future. – Rappler.com