Real Madrid Presents Trophy, Thrashes Alaves 5-0
Real Madrid showcased their dominance on Tuesday by presenting their 36th Spanish league trophy to jubilant fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium before securing a commanding 5-0 victory over Alaves. Vinícius Júnior led the charge with a brace, complemented by Jude Bellingham's goal, and strikes from Federico Valverde and Arda Guler.
Having clinched the league title two rounds earlier, Madrid hadn't played at the Bernabeu since their triumph. Despite initial delays due to scheduling conflicts, the club celebrated their championship with fervor, parading the trophy through the streets of Madrid on Sunday. However, they were unable to host their customary celebration at the Bernabeu due to a prior concert event.
Their journey to the title was marked by significant fixtures, including a pivotal win against Cadiz on May 4 ahead of their Champions League semifinal clash against Bayern Munich, which they won 2-1 to advance to the final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London.
Vinícius Júnior expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum. He reflected on his childhood dream of playing at the Bernabeu, highlighting the opportunity to inspire future generations of footballers.
Before kickoff, Alaves paid tribute to Madrid with a guard of honor, displaying sportsmanship and mutual respect. Madrid's captain, Nacho Fernández, proudly carried the league trophy onto the field, surrounded by images representing the club's illustrious history.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti fielded the regular starters, who delivered a commanding performance. Bellingham opened the scoring in the 10th minute, followed by Vinícius' first goal in the 27th and Valverde's strike in first-half stoppage time. Vinícius secured his brace in the 70th minute, with Guler sealing the result in the 81st.
The victory marked Madrid's ninth consecutive league win and sixth in their last seven matches across all competitions. With 93 points from 36 matches, they maintained a significant 17-point lead over second-place Barcelona.
In other league action, relegation-threatened Mallorca secured a crucial point with a 1-1 draw against Osasuna, while Girona missed an opportunity to overtake Barcelona for second place after a 1-0 loss to mid-table Villarreal at home. Girona remained in third place, one point behind Barcelona and five points ahead of fourth-place Atletico Madrid.
Looking ahead, Atletico will face mid-table Getafe on Wednesday, while Barcelona is set to take on last-place Almeria on Thursday.
