Real Madrid wins its record-extending 36th Spanish league title after Barcelona loses at Girona

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Real Madrid has triumphed in the Spanish league once more, securing their unmatched 36th title with four matches still to be played, thanks to their unassailable 13-point advantage over runners-up Girona.

Madrid won the domestic championship by defeating Cadiz 3-0 on Saturday, and later on, Barcelona lost to Girona by 4-2. Had Barcelona won, Madrid's victory wouldn't have been celebrated.

In Madrid, there is a great opportunity to increase their already unbeatable record of 14 European Cups. This Wednesday, Madrid will welcome Bayern Munich to the Champions League where the semifinal match is evenly matched after a 2-2 draw in Germany. The winner will go on to face either Paris Saint-Germain or Borussia Dortmund in the final on June 1.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti stated that they need to postpone their happiness as they have an essential game lined up on Wednesday. He further added that they have had an outstanding Spanish league season with very few errors. They have managed to maintain their stability which is why they deserve to have an advantage. This statement was given before Barcelona was defeated.

It's imperative that we recuperate, take a break, and perform at our peak when we face Bayern.

In this season, it seemed like Madrid was going to have a tough time competing against the reigning champions, Barcelona, because they lost Karim Benzema in the summer transfer window. Additionally, defenders David Alaba and Eder Militao suffered severe leg injuries, making it even more challenging for the team.

Jude Bellingham transformed into a proficient goal scorer upon his transfer from Borussia Dortmund. His scoring prowess and ability to lead in midfield, coupled with Vinícius Júnior's impressive dribbling, speed, and scoring abilities, catapulted Madrid ahead of their competitors in the league.

It seemed like Madrid was going to have to come from behind to catch up with their rival, Barcelona, this season. This was due to Karim Benzema leaving during the summer and significant injuries to key players, such as Thibaut Courtois, David Alaba, and Eder Militao.

When Jude Bellingham joined the team from Borussia Dortmund, he became a scorer and also showed great leadership in the midfield. This, together with Vinícius Júnior's impressive dribbling skills, speed, and ability to score goals, helped Madrid become the clear front-runner in the league.

Madrid has been defeated only one time out of 34 games till now and emerged victorious against Barcelona in both league "clasico" matches. They also handed over Girona two significant defeats in the two times they faced each other.

Before the crucial match against Bayern, Ancelotti made significant changes to his starting lineup. The sole player to retain his starting position from the previous game against Bayern was Nacho Fernández, who played in the center-back position. Against Cadiz, he was the only one who started from the outset.

Brahim Díaz made a breakthrough against Cadiz's defense during the 51st minute at Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. His powerful shot from the boundary of the box went straight into the top corner of the net.

Bellingham, who has had an exceptional season, scored his second goal of the match in the 68th minute after coming on as a substitute, making it his 18th league goal of the season. This secured the win and eased any doubts about the final result. In the last minutes of the game, Joselu Mato scored a third goal, sealing the victory for the team.

"Girona's Champions League Debut"

Girona has moved ahead of Barcelona and put its fellow Catalan team in the third position, trailing Madrid with a 14-point difference.

The team of Barcelona coach Xavi faced a harsh reality as they saw Madrid clinch the championship trophy due to their defeat. They were also dealt another blow as Girona, their opponents in the Catalan derby, secured their second victory of the season and surpassed Barcelona to claim the second position in the league.

Girona has secured a place in the top four and earned a chance to play in the Champions League by creating a significant lead over Athletic Bilbao in fifth place. By maintaining its second place position, Girona might prevent Barcelona from enjoying a financially beneficial position in the Spanish Super Cup.

Xavi expressed his frustration with the team's performance, stating that they had control of the game but ultimately lost, which is reflective of their entire season. This trend was evident in their matches against Madrid and Girona, making it difficult for them to successfully compete. Changes need to be made if they hope to be competitive in the upcoming season.

Girona's Cristian "Portu" Portugués came off the bench and turned the game in their favor. The team was losing 2-1 before Portu entered the game in the 65th minute and immediately scored a goal. Two minutes later, he assisted in Miguel Gutiérrez's goal, before scoring his second goal of the game in the 74th minute to complete his brace.

In the beginning of the game, Lamine Yamal from Barcelona passed the ball to Andreas Christensen. However, Girona's Artem Dovbyk quickly responded by scoring his 20th goal of the league. Later, Yamal drew a penalty for Barcelona, and Robert Lewandowski successfully converted it just before halftime.

Courtois returned to the goal post for the first time this season after experiencing two leg injuries. The 31-year-old Belgian injured his left knee's ACL in August, just two days before Real Madrid's first match of the season. Later, in March, he suffered a meniscus rupture in his right knee while preparing to make a comeback.

Courtois didn't have much to do throughout the game, apart from a few instances before Díaz scored the opening goal. During one of these, he expertly stopped Cadiz striker Chris Ramos from going on a breakaway.

On Friday, Ancelotti declared that Andriy Lunin, who has performed exceptionally well while replacing Courtois, will resume his position as the goalkeeper in the upcoming second leg against Bayern.

Cadiz is facing a tough time trying to avoid being relegated and found themselves defending their goal for most parts of the match. This team hails from the southern part of Spain and is currently trailing by five points from a safe position.

Furthermore, Real Sociedad secured their position for the Europa League by triumphing over Las Palmas 2-0 and currently standing at sixth place.