Real Madrid champions, Barca beat Mallorca

AGENCY: MAY. 2 – Real Madrid sealed the 35th La Liga title of their history thanks to a 4-0 win over Espanyol in the climax of the weekend in Spain.

First-half goals from Rodrygo and second-half efforts from Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid an easy win against a rival that never looked like spoiling the party.

Real Madrid have assured the title with four games left to play, while coach Carlo Ancelotti has now won league titles in Spain, England, France, Germany and Italy.

FC Barcelona remains second, 15 points behind after a 2-1 win at home to Mallorca. Barca looked to be on their way to a comfortable win thanks to goals from Memphis Depay and Sergio Busquets, but a 79th-minute header from Antonio Raillo following Salva Sevilla’s free-kick gave the visitors late hope.

There was mixed news on the injury front for Barca as Ansu Fati returned to action after three months out, but Gerard Pique was forced to limp out of the game after just half an hour.

Third-placed Sevilla’s season continues to drift after they could only draw 1-1 at home with struggling Cadiz on Friday night.

Youssef En-Nesyri’s first-half header put Sevilla ahead before Lucas Perez’s excellent free-kick and saved a point for Cadiz in the second half.

Fourth place Atletico Madrid’s lost 2-0 away to Athletic Club Bilbao, who dominated nearly all of the game and took the points thanks to Inaki Williams’ deflected cross off Mario Hermoso in the eighth minute and a second-half penalty that Williams clipped over Jan Oblak after Iker Muniain had been fouled.

The win keeps Athletic’s hopes of qualifying for Europe alive after seventh-place Villarreal lost 2-1 away to Alaves and sixth-placed Real Sociedad dropped two points in a 1-1 draw away to Rayo Vallecano.

Alexander Sorloth put Real Sociedad ahead in the 33rd minute, but Rayo reacted well in the second half and got their reward with Radamel Falcao’s 77th-minute equalizer.

First-half goals from Victor Laguardia and Gonzalo Escalante gave Alaves a two-goal cushion and they were able to hang on after Samuel Chukwueze pulled one back for Villarreal two minutes into the second half.

The win lifts Alaves above Levante, despite Levante taking a draw away to Valencia in the city derby.

Oscar Duarte scored an 81st-minute equalizer for Levante after Hugo Duro had headed Valencia ahead with their only effort on target in a game that saw Valencia’s Jose Luis Gaya sent off after 31 minutes.

Granada remains in the bottom three but salvaged a point with a 1-1 draw at home against Celta Vigo thanks to Luis Milla’s flicked injury-time header to cancel out Iago Aspas’ 71st-minute shot, which deflected off Granada defender Antonio Puertas on its way into the back of the net.

On Sunday, Elche and Osasuna drew 1-1 with Pere Milla’s late header earning a point for the home side after Ante Budimir’s 67th-minute penalty had given Osasuna the lead.

Elche defender Pedro Bigas had to be taken to hospital after a clash of heads in the 20th minute of the game.