Title-winning Real Madrid’s celebratory end to the season continued as they made light work of in-form Deportivo Alavés, winning 5-0 at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu to go 30 matches unbeaten in La Liga.Captain Nacho led the Real Madrid team out carrying the La Liga trophy through a guard of honour, but any suggestions Alavés were there for the celebrations were rubbished in the second minute when Samu Omorodion had Thibaut Courtois scrambling at his near post to make a save. In the 10th minute, however, Real showed their class as they took the lead. Toni Kroos curled a cross to the back post, where it was met by Jude Bellingham, who connected with a delightful side-foot volley to send the ball over goalkeeper Jesús Owono and in off the opposite post.A beautiful first goal was followed by a simple second 15 minutes later, and Bellingham was involved again as he slipped a through ball to Edouardo Camavinga. The Frenchman was afforded plenty of time as he squared the ball to Vinícius Júnior, who tapped home from six yards out. An Ianis Hagi strike from 25 yards forced Courtois into a full-stretch dive, but Los Blancos all but ended the visitors hopes of getting back into the match on the stroke of halftime, when Bellingham found Federico Valverde on the corner of the area, and he rifled a strike past Owono, beating the goalkeeper at his near post.Hunting a first top half finish in La Liga for seven years, Alavés continued to show how they had amassed 10 points from their last four matches with testing strikes from Hagi and Omorodion after the break. At the other end, Owono saved well from Vinícius, but the Brazilian was only not going to be denied a second for long. With 20 minutes to play, Bellingham was again the man to unlock the Babazorros’ defence, and Vinícius fired across the goalkeeper for his 15th of the league campaign.Another Champions League final may be on the horizon for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, but they did not let up in this game as with 10 minutes to play a driving run from Rodrygo saw his shot deflect into the path of Arda Güler, who slotted home number five. The win keeps Real on course for an unbeaten home league campaign, having now gone over a year without such a home defeat. Alavés, meanwhile, slip to four away defeats in five.Elsewhere, Bertrand Traoré’s second-half goal dented Girona’s hopes of finishing above Barcelona, ending a four-game unbeaten streak (three wins, one draw) and helping to secure a shock 1-0 win for 10-man Villarreal in the Estadi Montilivi.As early as the 4th minute, Villarreal managed to fashion their first chance of the game as Alexander Sørloth was released down the left, but rather than go for goal himself, he flashed the ball wide of the post. Just four minutes later Bertrand Traoré tried his luck from distance, yet Paulo Gazzaniga beat the ball away to keep the scores level inside 10 minutes.Gironistes have already made history this term by qualifying for their maiden Champions League campaign but Michel’s men have never shown to be content with just being La Liga’s surprise package this season. Manchester City-bound Sávio’s first foray forward came in the 26th minute when he jinked his way through the midfield before laying the ball to Viktor Tsygankov, who saw his left-footed strike whistled past the far post.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Before the visit of Villarreal, Girona had only been undone by champions Real Madrid at home, and on 58 minutes that record was under serious threat. A sweeping move culminated in the ball falling kindly for Traoré, who finished expertly into the bottom corner for his first goal in Spanish football. Tsygankov looked to hit back for the home side on 62 minutes but his ferocious strike cannoned off the crossbar before bouncing to safety. Kiko Femenía was sent off in second-half injury time but the home side saw out the remaining minutes to claim a surprise three points.
After a slow start to the season, Villarreal have been churning out positive results since the turn of the year, and adding Girona’s scalp, however unlikely, mathematically means Villarreal can still qualify for European competition next season. Girona now look set to finish third behind Barcelona, but irrespective of this disappointment, Los Blanquivermells have had a remarkable season.LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 36TuesdayOsasuna – Mallorca 1-1 (1-0)/Moncayola 14 – Darder 65/Real Madrid – Alaves 5-0 (3-0)/Bellingham 10, Vinicius Jr 27, 70, Valverde 45+1, Guler 82/Girona – Villarreal 0-1 (0-0)/Traore 59/Wednesday20:30: (2.00) Sevilla (3.50) Cadiz (4.10)20:30: (1.60) Rayo Vallecano (3.60) Granada (6.50)23:00: (4.90) Getafe (3.60) Atl.Madrid (1.85)23:00: (2.65) Celta (3.35) Ath.Bilbao (2.85)Thursday20:30: (4.20) Las Palmas (3.50) Betis (1.90)22:30: (6.75) Almeria (4.60) Barcelona (1.45)23:00: (1.63) Sociedad (3.70) Valencia (7.00)***odds are subject***