Real Madrid celebrate La Liga title with bus parade as thousands of fans pack the streets

Around 150,000 supporters turn out in Madrid after the club secured the championship with four matches to spare

Real Madrid players celebrate on an open top bus after winning La Liga as thousands of fans turn out on the streets of Madrid. AP

Real Madrid players Karim Benzema and Lucas Vasquez celebrate on the Plaza Cibeles square in Madrid after securing the club's 35th La Liga title. AFP

Real Madrid players celebrate on an open top bus through the streets of Madrid after winning the Spanish title. AP

Luka Modric and his Real Madrid teammates celebrate during the open top bus trophy parade. AP

Soccer Football - Real Madrid fans celebrate winning LaLiga - Madrid, Spain - April 30, 2022 Real Madrid players celebrate winning LaLiga on top of the bus with fans at Cibeles fountain in Madrid REUTERS / Susana Vera TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti waves during celebrations after guiding the club to the title. AP

Real Madrid players celebrate on an open top bus after they won the Spanish La Liga title. AP

Real Madrid players celebrate with the fans at the Plaza Cibeles after winning the club's 35th La Liga title. EPA

Marcelo puts up a flag on top of a statue on the Plaza Cibeles square in Madrid during Real Madrid's La Liga title celebrations. AFP

Thousands of fans pack the streets of Madrid to celebrate Real Madrid's La Liga title triumph. Reuters

Fans of Real Madrid celebrate at Plaza de Cibeles following the the club's La Liga title. Getty

Real Madrid players celebrate winning La Liga on top of the bus with fans at Cibeles fountain in Madrid. Reuters

Real Madrid fans celebrate at Cibeles fountain in Madrid after the club won La Liga. Reuters

Real Madrid fans celebrate at Plaza de Cibeles following the club's La Liga title triumph. Getty

A view of Plaza Cibeles as Real Madrid players and fans celebrate winning La Liga. EPA

Real Madrid players and fans celebrate at Cibeles fountain after the club won La Liga. Reuters

Toni Kroos and his teammates celebrate on top of the bus at Cibeles fountain in Madrid after the club secured the Spanish league title. Reuters

Real Madrid players celebrate with their fans after winning the Spanish La Liga title. EPA

Real Madrid players celebrate with fans in Madrid during the open top bus parade. Reuters

Real Madrid fans wait for players to arrive as they celebrate winning La Liga. EPA

Real Madrid completed the most emphatic of La Liga title triumphs on Saturday after dominating Espanyol 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to wrap up the championship with four matches to spare.

Such has been the inevitability of Madrid's title success that the engine has been running on the open top bus for weeks and it finally revved into gear on Saturday evening, taking the players and staff from the stadium and into the city centre to continue the celebrations.

As the bus drove through the city towards the Cibeles fountain – the central landmark where the club usually celebrate their successes – Real Madrid were greeted by around 150,000 jubilant fans, who cheered and chanted the club's 35th La Liga title.

The supporters started gathering around the Cibeles fountain almost an hour before the end of Saturday's game, which Real won easily with two first-half goals by Rodrygo followed by goals from Marcos Asensio and Karim Benzema.

Traffic restrictions were put in place on Friday while a stage was built around the fountain where the players on an open-top bus traditionally join the fans coming from the Bernabeu to continue the party.

It is the first time Real supporters have had a chance to gather without wearing masks for a celebration after the Covid-19 pandemic as the club's last league title triumph in 2020 was in the middle of lockdown.

Two hours after the game the players arrived at Cibeles and Marcelo, in what is set to be the last of the 33-year-old Brazilian defender's 16 seasons at the club, took the traditional responsibility of 'crowning' the Greek goddess statue.

He placed a Real Madrid scarf around the head of the statue and a white flag with the club's coat of arms over her chest as his teammates and fans raised their hands, waving in rhythm with 'We Are The Champions' which was being played loudly.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, famous for his cool and calm demeanour, was one of the more animated during the celebrations, closing his speech to the fans by shouting: "Let's go against Man City!", in reference to their Champions League semi-final, second leg on Wednesday.

Real Madrid clinch 35th La Liga title

That game was the reason for the party ending early by Spanish standards, with the players leaving just past 9pm local time. Ancelotti had rested several regular starters with Real hosting the second leg in just a few days' time trailing 4-3.

Ancelotti said the celebrations were important "for the mental aspect" but reiterated that the players will be back to work on Sunday to prepare for City.

"We are professionals. Tonight we all celebrate together. Tomorrow we train and on Wednesday we have another important game," Ancelotti said.

The only Real player to miss the celebrations was Wales forward Gareth Bale, who has rarely played this season due to injury, with fans and local media having turned on him.

"So disappointed that I'm not able to be part of the celebrations this evening due to a bad back spasm but really proud of the team for winning the title! Enjoy tonight boys! #HalaMadrid," Bale wrote in his social media accounts.