Spanish giants Real Madrid beat Villarreal on Thursday to lift their 34th La Liga title, pipping Barcelona to the finish line with a game to spare.
Once again, French striker Karim Benzema was the star of the show, netting a brace to power his team to victory. Few expected coach Zinedine Zidane to leave Real Madrid and even fewer expected him to come back as coach.
Also Read: After Real Madrid’s 34th La Liga triumph who has the most league titles in Spain?
And yet almost 500 days later, he has won the La Liga title, without fuss, without even the improvements he was promised. On Thursday, in an empty Alfredo di Stefano Stadium at Real Madrid’s training ground, he hoisted another trophy, his second in La Liga and 11th overall as coach.
Also read: Zidane cements place among Real Madrid’s greatest managers with smart La Liga win
Zidane currently wins a trophy every 19 games on average and while three Champions League titles out of three was historic, this might be his most impressive yet. The three-time Fifa World Player of Year-winner rated this win as one of his finest achievements. Madrid also recorded their first win since the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit from the club.
Here’s how Twitter celebrated Real Madrid’s triumph:
Another title in the bag. Real Madrid truly came together as a team during these tough times. Congratulations! Finally some good news in a year that is severely lacking any. #No34 #HalaMadrid @LaLiga @realmadrid pic.twitter.com/Pbake4efQq
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) July 17, 2020
I wrote this long thread about Real Madrid back in September, when they were in free fall.
— Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) July 16, 2020
In hindsight, Madrid's best signing of 2019 wasn't Hazard or Mendy or Jović; it was Zidane. https://t.co/pY1phFmM7a
Congratulations to Real madrid for winning their 32nd La liga tittle this night. Zidan has shown the world how good he is, winning the league tittle without a single born scorer in the team. A feat few can achieve. #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/SseZJFB0YQ
— Al'ameen✨ (@Al_ameen_Yabo) July 16, 2020
Zinedine Zidane is averaging a trophy every 19 games as a manager. In a league with Barcelona and Lionel Messi in it, that’s absolutely bonkers. pic.twitter.com/eD3hXwU3nY
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) July 16, 2020
Zidane met a Real Madrid side 12pts behind Valverde's Barça & had eliminated the UCL after a 4-1 loss v Ajax. For a manager that's been Sporting Director, Academy coach, assistant coach & Manager, he's worked his ass off at all levels.
— DezReport (@DezReport) July 16, 2020
Most underrated of the our generation.
Zidane has done it agian. He used the same set of players, except Mendy noone of our new signings made a huge impact, yet won the league. People might not call him the best tactician, but what he did with Real Madrid is extraordinary. His legacy is unparalleled. pic.twitter.com/Mte88WvAuj
— Sristi (@sriso_o) July 16, 2020
Thibaut Courtois is the first player to ever win La Liga for both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. pic.twitter.com/kc5qOtllB5
— Bolarinwa Olajide (@iambolar) July 17, 2020
The anchor Casemiro, the compass Kroos and the sail Modric of Real Madrid's midfield... Veterans who have dominated Europe for half a decade.
— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) July 17, 2020
Except this time couldn't have done it without a new engine in form of Fede. #34Ligas pic.twitter.com/cqEdjkgQl1
Karim Benzema for Real Madrid:
— Real Madrid Analysis (@rmdanalysis) July 17, 2020
• 511 matches
• 248 goals
• 135 assists
• 4x Champions League
• 4x FIFA Club World Cup
• 3x La Liga
• 3x UEFA Super Cup
• 2x Copa del Rey
• 2x Spanish Super Cup pic.twitter.com/UiyvpytFpd
At 27 years old, Raphaël Varane has had quite the career at Real Madrid:
— Football Factly (@FootballFactly) July 17, 2020
La Liga: 🏆🏆🏆
Copa del Rey: 🏆
Spanish Cup: 🏆🏆
Champions League: 🏆🏆🏆🏆
UEFA Super Cup: 🏆🏆🏆
Club World Cup: 🏆🏆🏆🏆
Not to mention for France:
World Cup: 🏆 pic.twitter.com/DVFyZQ0Co6
It wasn’t easy. But we made it as a team. 🏆 This title is the ultimate reward for our determination. For not giving up. For working hard. For you, who kept believing in us. Thank you! 🙏🏻 #HalaMadrid #LaLiga #RealMadrid #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/IlqfqGZB8h
— Thibaut Courtois (@thibautcourtois) July 16, 2020
Real Madrid won two titles in 2020, that's more than any club in the world.
— Obama🇱🇷🇬🇭 (@TonyBright_) July 16, 2020
(With inputs from AFP)