The final whistle blows, but Real Madrid still has to wait. Players hugged each other and sang some of the club’s most famous anthems in front of a packed South Stand. Their 3-0 win over visitors Cadiz on Saturday afternoon meant the job was mostly done, but not quite.
In truth, it was only a matter of time since Barcelona won 3-2 here in El Clasico two weeks ago. Everyone knew, ever since Jude Bellingham’s stoppage-time winner put them 11 points ahead, that the title would go to the Santiago Bernabeu.
The official message from the club was one of calm and continuity. That all thoughts are focused on completing the task at hand – referring further to Wednesday evening and the second leg at home of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
But yesterday was not just any spring afternoon in the Spanish capital.
We saw it as soon as Brahim Diaz’s sublime opener lit up the match shortly after half-time. Normally, coach Carlo Ancelotti’s reaction to a Madrid goal is gentle and reserved, while his assistant and son Davide tends to celebrate more effusively. On this occasion, they were both standing and punching the air.
GO FURTHER
How Real Madrid won La Liga – clever Ancelotti, brilliant Bellingham, new heroes
There were other moments like that.
Bellingham, rested from the starting line-up, came on and scored the 18th La Liga goal of his first season in Madrid – he is two behind Girona’s Artem Dovbyk in the race for top scorer. In stoppage time, Nacho rushed forward and broke through the defense before setting up Joselu for an easy strike. It was “la guinda” – the icing on the cake.
Madrid’s victory meant Barca needed to beat high-flying neighbors Girona later today to retain their La Liga crown for another week. And there was a feeling that they might make a mistake.
Even before the final whistle, chants of “Campeones!” could be heard. (Champions), and it was a joyful scene as players and fans gathered to celebrate – but soon after it was back to business. Ancelotti was the only one to address the media. No player came to speak in the mixed zone, which usually only happens with the most painful defeats.
With four days before Bayern’s second leg, the idea was to stop the party there, although few people really wanted to go home just yet. The players and coaching staff remained at the Bernabeu, some joined by family and friends, to watch the day’s other key match, at Girona’s 13-capacity Montilivi Stadium. 500 places.
While scattered between the dressing room, the Bernabeu’s private boxes and the pitch, Madrid fans gathered waiting outside the pitch and at the famous Cibeles Fountain in the city centre, where traditionally celebrated the club’s titles.
Barcelona took the lead twice, but even when they led 2-1 and dominated, the crowds 700 km (almost 450 miles) away in the capital did not disperse. Girona came back, sealing their own place in the Champions League with another impressive performance. When the final whistle blew, it was finally official. Girona won 4-2. Madrid were champions of Spain for a record 36th time.
💜🔊 #MADRIDISTAS X @REAL MADRID 🔊💜 pic.twitter.com/u026O6ERRb
– Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) May 4, 2024
There were no more than 2,000 people in Cibeles at that time, according to police sources, and so they decided not to close the roads. Previous years have seen many more gatherings – but Madrid had already said it would not hold a parade there on Saturday evening.
“I want to send a message of calm. It’s going to be celebrated in a week’s time, as it deserves,” skipper Nacho told Madrid’s internal media – the first reaction after the title win. “We are already thinking about Wednesday’s match against Bayern.”
It was Nacho in captain mode after having equaled, with Luka Modric, the 25 titles won with the club in all competitions by their former teammates Karim Benzema and Marcelo. No player has as many in Madrid’s history.
Athleticism texted a club source: “You’re going to have to open some beers!” »
“Nooooo. There’s practice tomorrow,” was the response. This was planned for today (Sunday) at 11 a.m., at their base in the northern district of Valdebebas, in the north of the city.
Back at the Bernabeu, scenes of celebration were shared on social media.
One clip showed a tight-knit group of players dancing together, before making way for Ancelotti and other members of the coaching staff to join the circle, as well as physiotherapists. There were special moments, like the chanting of Thibaut Courtois’ name – the Belgian was playing for the first time this season following his two knee injuries. And there was at least a toast or two, with cava or champagne.
But at 8:50 p.m., about half an hour after the final whistle in Girona, the players began to leave.
Toni Kroos, who has a reputation for being a homebody, went first. Bellingham was the last out, sitting in the front passenger seat of a car with the window down while his mother drove. He was clearly in the mood to party: he almost took the microphone from a radio reporter who was trying to catch a word.
At that time, a news story on the club’s website contained Ancelotti’s first words: “It was a Liga deserved.”
There was a similar atmosphere around the celebrations following Madrid’s previous league title two years ago, when they also played in the Champions League semi-final second leg at home, against Manchester City a few days later .
Who knows what could have happened if they had let themselves go a little. Would we have witnessed their spectacular comeback on that magical evening en route to the club’s 14th European Cup/Champions League crown?
Madrid’s restrained reaction on Saturday does not mean that this latest league title is not valued. But recent experience has taught them that it is better to wait.
(Top photo: Burak Akbulut/Anadolu via Getty Images)