The celebrations had long already started in Madrid before Daniele Orsato blew the full-time whistle at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
But as he did, Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid were back in party mood after booking their place in the final of the Champions League in one of the most dramatic ways possible. Despite being behind heading into the 90th minute, in both the tie and game, Real somehow managed to force the match into extra-time.
Rodrygo scored twice to force an extra 30 minutes, cancelling out Riyad Mahrez’s opener in the process, before Karim Benzema struck from the spot to seal a 6-5 win on aggregate for Los Blancos and leave City wondering what if in Europe for a sixth consecutive season.
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But as Real’s players celebrated on the pitch, the scenes were not too different to those witnessed a few days before. That's because Real secured their 35th La Liga title on Saturday afternoon after beating Espanyol 4-0 at home.
Rodrygo scored twice, with Marco Asensio and Benzema adding the gloss to ensure they wrapped things up with four games to spare. It was an afternoon to remember for both Real and Ancelotti.
Real claimed their latest title with relative ease, having moved an unassailable 16 points ahead of Barcelona with five games left to play this season. While Ancelotti has become the first manager to win the Premier League, the Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and La Liga in his coaching career.
But the fact Real have already secured the La Liga title could be huge heading into the coming weeks. While Ancelotti’s troops can sit back and put their feet up on the domestic front, knowing their work for the season is already complete, Liverpool will have no such luxury.
Just a point of course separates the Reds and City in the Premier League table, with both sides having four games left this season. One slip up from either side could be fatal to their league championship hopes
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As well as chasing the title, Liverpool also have the FA Cup final to come before their European showdown in Paris, with their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple still firmly alive.
Jurgen Klopp is going to need every member of his squad for the run-in, and although the Reds boss likes to rotate anyway, he won't have the luxury of being to rest his stars given what is at stake. Whereas Ancelotti will be able to rest many of his key players ahead of the clash at the Stade de France.
Liverpool supporters will no doubt out number Real fans in France, and could well have plenty of momentum heading into the game, especially if the league title and FA Cup are won in the coming weeks. But big games are often decided by small margins, and the fact Real could well arrive in Paris more refreshed, means no matter what Liverpool do between now and the final, Ancelotti's side will have at least one advantage over the Anfield club on Saturday, May 28.
