Vinicius, Bellingham, crazy clasicos… Real Madrid’s 36th Spanish championship title in photos

With thirteen points ahead of its runner-up four days before the end of the championship, Real Madrid has not done half-measures this season, also taking advantage of the ultimate weakness of FC Barcelona. On Saturday, while the Blaugrana were once again sinking in Girona, the big surprise of this La Liga season, the Merengue won their 36th Spanish championship title.

However, at the start of the season, we were far from thinking of such a stranglehold on the championship, especially after the departure of Karim Benzema, who had not been replaced. And the major injuries to Courtois and Militao hardly encouraged optimism. That was without counting on Uncle Carletto Ancelotti and all his gregarios, who wouldn’t even start at FC Charvieu-Chavagneux, but who look sublime with the white jersey on their backs.

• Traveling to the Basque Country and the hell of San Mamès for the first match of the season is a better way to gain confidence, especially when your starting goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is seriously injured two days before the match. But Real Madrid are made of different wood and, thanks to Bellingham and Rodrygo, win against Athletic Bilbao.

• After a perfect start to the season, Real Madrid suffered its first defeat of the season against its great rival, Atlético de Madrid (3-1). Trained with the Merengue, Alvaro Morata scores a double, wonderfully accompanied by Antoine Griezmann, author of the second goal. A little hitch before setting off again.

• With Eduardo Camavinga at left back and Joselu up front, the Merengue’s trip to THE surprise of the season, Girona, could promise to be complicated. Nope. The former Espanyol Barcelona striker opened the scoring, followed a few minutes later by Aurélien Tchouameni, author of a magnificent header. And Jude Bellingham, who arrived this summer from Borussia Dortmund and is already essential, closed the score in the second period.

• Inevitable Jude Bellingham! Author of a double and unstoppable since the start of the season, the English prodigy allowed Real Madrid to overthrow their rivals FC Barcelona (2-1) on their lawn in the clasico on October 28. The 20-year-old midfielder revived his team with a missile from the right from 25 meters (69th, 1-1), before doubling the lead in added time and plunging the Olympic stadium into cathedral silence following a involuntary deviation from Modric (91st, 2-1).

• Without its English star Jude Bellingham, but with a Brazilian duo Vinicus-Rodrygo found, Real Madrid signed its biggest victory of the season against Valencia (5-1) in mid-November. Mute for a month in La Liga, Vinicius scored a double, just like his compatriot and attacking partner Rodrygo.

• Trailing 2-0 at half-time on home soil by bottom side Almeria in early January, Real Madrid snatched victory (3-2) thanks to a goal from Carvajal at the end of added time on the 21st day of La Liga to regain its first place. The Madrilenians were able to count on very limited refereeing to achieve this comeback: a goal from the Andalusians was unfairly refused, while a goal from Vinicius’ arm was validated.

• It is the illustration of the perfect DIY carried out by Carlo Ancelotti. Undermined by injuries in central defense, the Italian coach has, on several occasions, pushed back French midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni. If the player trained in Bordeaux has often done wonderfully, it was in his favorite position that he scored the winning goal in Mallorca, with a long shot (a little deflected, it is true) , April 13.

• Hero of the first leg, Englishman Jude Bellingham allowed Real Madrid to win in added time in the Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on April 21. The British midfielder, like at the Montjuic Olympic stadium, appeared a few seconds before the end to offer an almost decisive 11-point lead to the Merengues, at the end of a crazy match where they came back to score twice (90th+ 1).

• While Real Madrid will try, once again, to reach a Champions League final, Carlo Ancelotti had decided to rotate his squad for the reception in Cadiz on Saturday, a few days before the return match against Bayern Munich. And, in the footsteps of a great Brahim Diaz, author of a superb goal, the “replacements” did the job. Like throughout the season. Special mention to Nacho, Fran Garcia, Modric or Joselu. And Thibaut Courtois even made his return.

• Four days before the end of the championship, Real Madrid players were officially crowned champions of Spain on Saturday evening, after Barça’s defeat in Girona. In the process, hundreds of supporters of the White House went to Cibeles Square, where Real’s titles were celebrated. The players should go there once the season is over, perhaps with the title of European champion as a bonus.