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Real Madrid captains Marcelo and Karim Benzema lifts La Liga title in grand style (Photos)

Real Madrid won a record-extending 35th LaLiga title after two first-half goals from Rodrygo spurred them to a 4-0 emphatic home victory over mid-table Espanyol on Saturday.

The win also made their Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe’s top five leagues — England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France.

Rodrygo’s double put Real 2-0 up at the break before Marco Asensio added a third after 55 minutes and LaLiga top scorer Karim Benzema sealed the points in the 81st.

Marcelo and Benzema doing a lap for the 35th La Liga trophy
Marcelo and Benzema doing a lap for the 35th La Liga trophy
Carlo Ancelotti thrown in the air by Madrid players
Carlo Ancelotti thrown in the air by Madrid players
Madrid supporters also savour title win
Madrid supporters also savour title win

Captain Benzema lifted the trophy after coming off the bench late in the second half as Ancelotti rested several regular starters with Real hosting Manchester City in their Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday trailing 4-3.

Real have 81 points with four games to go.

They are 17 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla and 18 clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand, and needed a point against Espanyol to clinch the title with almost a month of the season remaining.

It was a record-breaking day for defender Marcelo, who won his 24th piece of silverware with Real to leapfrog Gento as the player with the most trophy wins in the club’s 120-year history.

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