Swaggering champions Madrid rout relegated Granada

AFP | New Delhi     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Spanish champions Real Madrid romped to a 4-0 victory over relegated Granada to get their title celebrations started yesterday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side will parade the league trophy on Sunday in the Spanish capital and a side filled with reserves made light work of the downtrodden Andalucians.

Brahim Diaz struck twice with Fran Garcia and Arda Guler also on target for Madrid, who defeated Bayern Munich in midweek to reach the Champions League final. Los Blancos secured their 36th Spanish title last weekend with four games to spare, but chose not to celebrate to focus on the Bayern clash.

A late Joselu brace settled that match in dramatic fashion and the Spaniard started up front against Granada, with only Antonio Rudiger starting the match from the side that beat the German giants.

Granada, 19th, were relegated before kick-off after Mallorca beat Las Palmas to ensure the Andalucians could not escape the drop zone.

Their players gave Real Madrid a guard of honour and Los Blancos went on to demonstrate the focus that drove them on to the title, even with nothing on the line now. Victory sent them 15 points clear of second-placed Girona.