July 17, 2020 - Croatia national team captain and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric played an essential role in the victory that confirmed the new champion of Spain.
Real Madrid mathematically confirmed the Spanish title with a 2-1 victory against Villarreal on Thursday night.
Karim Benzema scored both of Madrid's goals in the match, and Luka Modric assisted the first. Iborra scored for Villarreal.
Real took the lead in the 29th minute. Casemiro found Modric, who pushed the ball into the penalty area with a timely lay off for Benzema, who scored for the 1-0 lead.
Real increased their lead in the 77th minute thanks to a penalty won by Sergio Ramos. Real's captain stepped up to the penalty spot and cunningly played Benzema, who scored, though his goal was disallowed as he entered the penalty area before Ramos touched the ball.
A repeated attempt was made by Benzema, who hit accurately for 2-0.
Villarreal reduced Madrid's lead in the 83rd minute, and could have scored again had Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not saved Real on several occasions.
Marco Asensio scored for 3-1 in added time, though the goal was called back due to handball.
??? ¡La foto de los CAMPEONES de @LaLiga 2019/20!#34Ligas | #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/k0Ss0xk6Kw
— Real Madrid C.F.⚽ (@realmadrid) July 16, 2020
One round before the end, the Royal Club has an unattainable seven-point advantage over Barcelona, who lost at home to Osasuna (1-2).
Osasuna took the lead through Arnaiz in the 15th minute, Messi equalized in the 62nd minute, and Roberto Torres shocked Barcelona in added time and resolved all doubts about the new champion.
This is Real Madrid's 34th Spanish title. Real won their last title in 2017, also under the leadership of Zinedine Zidane. The Madrid club came to the new title thanks to a fantastic defense that received 23 goals in 37 league games and with only three defeats.
One of the key players of Blancos was again Luka Modric, who led the team with his brilliant play, especially after the championship resumed after the break caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Since the continuation of La Liga on June 14, Real have recorded nine victories, thus leading ahead of Barcelona. Eibar, Valencia, Real Sociedad, Mallorca, Espanyol, Getafe, Athletic Bilbao, Alaves, Granada and Villarreal.
This is Luka's second Spanish championship title since joining Real Madrid in 2012. Luka Modric and this Real Madrid generation are now the second most celebrated group of players in the club's 118-year history.
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