By Chris Wright
“Toss me, but don’t tell the Elves!”
Mission accomplished: It’s been pretty much done and dusted for a week or two now, but Real Madrid assured their 32nd La Liga title and their first in four years with a win over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames last night.
With Barcelona having beaten Malaga 4-1 in the earlier kick-off (with Lionel Messi surpassing Gerd Muller’s European record by scoring his 66th, 67th and 68th goals of the season), Real Madrid new a win would do it, and win they jolly well did – Gonzalo Higuian, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo all netting in a fairly routine 3-0 victory over ten-man Bilbao.
Madrid now have an unassailable seven-point lead over Barca with just two league fixture remaining, meaning Jose Mourinho can now boast seven top-flight league titles in four different countries.
Mourinho’s side have also shattered the La Liga scoring record this term, racking up 115 goals so far (record was 107) and conceding only 30 – also becoming the first team to boast three players reaching the 20-league goal mark in a single season; Ronaldo (44), Higuain (22) and Karim Benzema (20).
Mou got the Pep treatment after the final whistle…
While we’re talking records, if Madrid – who have only lost twice all season – win their final two games they’ll also reach 100 points, surpassing Barcelona’s previous record of 99 set in 2009/10.
Which, you don’t need me to tell you, is completely absurd.
Oh, and Madrid’s 32nd title? That’s a record too.
Photos…
Highlights…
Photos: PA