Real Madrid win LaLiga for 35th time

Real Madrid celebrate against Espanyol.
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Real Madrid are Spanish champions for a 35th time after beating Espanyol 4-0 in LaLiga on Saturday.

Los Blancos needed just a point against the Barcelona-based club to secure the title and secured a comfortable win following two goals from Rodrygo and one each from Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema.

Benzema, who now has 42 goals from 42 appearances for Real Madrid this season, started on the bench as coach Carlo Ancelotti looked ahead to Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at home to Manchester City.

So it was much-changed Real Madrid side, with Jesus Vallejo in for a rare start at the back and defensive midfielder Casemiro (later Eduardo Camavinga) alongside him in a defence which also included Marcelo at left-back and winger Lucas Vazquez on the right.

There were also starts for Dani Ceballos and Mariano Diaz, but it was Rodrygo who set Real Madrid on their way with goals in the 33rd and 43rd minutes to give Ancelotti's side a comfortable advantage at the break.

Asensio then made it 3-0 after 55 minutes, with Benzema in on the act late in the game after coming off the bench to replace Casemiro.

Real Madrid's 35th title is a record but is a first for Ancelotti, who came third and second respectively in his first spell in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Los Blancos are 17 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla with 34 rounds played and 18 clear of Barcelona, with the Catalans in action at home to Mallorca on Sunday.

Ben Hayward
Weekend editor

Ben Hayward is a European football writer and Tottenham Hotspur fan with over 15 years’ experience, he has covered games all over the world - including three World Cups, several Champions League finals, Euros, Copa America - and has spent much of that time in Spain. Ben speaks English and Spanish, currently dividing his time between Barcelona and London, covering all the big talking points of the weekend on FFT: he’s also written several list features and interviewed Guglielmo Vicario for the magazine.