'We are the champions': Thousands of Real Madrid fans join the team in celebrating La Liga triumph

About 150,000 jubilant Real Madrid fans flocked to the city's central Cibeles fountain on Saturday to join the players for a celebration of their record-extending 35th La Liga title which was clinched with a 4-0 home win against Espanyol.

Here are some pictures of the celebration:

 

The supporters started gathering around the central landmark where the club usually celebrate their successes almost an hour before the end of Saturday's game, which Real won easily with two first-half goals by Rodrygo spurring them on.

 

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.

The party started in the stadium with captain Marcelo leading the show.

It was a record-breaking day for the Brazilian defender 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.

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's 16 seasons at the Spanish 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 team mates and fans raised their hands, waving in rhythm with 'We Are The Champions' which was being played loudly.

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

Real's usually low-profile Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti was one of the more animated during the celebrations in the stadium and at Cibeles, closing his speech to the fans by shouting a battle cry: "Let's go against Man City!", in reference to their Champions League semi-final, second leg on Wednesday.

Ancelotti told reporters he believes celebrating "is great for the mental aspect" but stressed that Sunday is a work day.

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