May 4, (THEWILL)- Real Madrid moved to the brink of clinching their 36th La Liga title with a commanding 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Cadiz. A Brahim Diaz masterclass proved the difference, as the Spanish forward’s brilliance condemned the visitors to a 22nd consecutive away game without a win.
With the tie delicately poised ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, Carlo Ancelotti rotated his starting lineup. However, the hosts endured an unconvincing opening half-hour, with Eder Militao’s long-range effort causing minimal concern for Cadiz goalkeeper Conan Ledesma, while Chris Ramos spurned a golden opportunity after Joseba Zaldua’s teasing cross.
Despite dominating possession, Cadiz’s need for points to stave off relegation spurred them on, and they counterattacked diligently. Ruben Sobrino’s breakaway was thwarted by the last-ditch defending of Nacho Fernandez, ensuring the teams went into the break level after a cagey first half – a rarity for both sides, with their previous meetings in April 2023 producing home and away victories.
Cadiz spurned a glorious opportunity after the restart when Ramos pounced on Militao’s error, only for the returning Thibaut Courtois to deny him with a crucial one-on-one save. That stop galvanised the Bernabeu faithful, whose support inspired Luka Modric to tee up Brahim Diaz for a thunderous opener from the edge of the area. Brahim then turned provider for substitute Jude Bellingham to sweep home and double Real’s advantage within minutes of his introduction.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s side were temporarily reprieved when Ledesma saved Militao’s header from Vinicius Junior’s outrageous rabona cross, but Nacho broke clear in stoppage time to set up Joselu’s simple tap-in, compounding Cadiz’s misery. The visitors now face an agonising wait to discover if Celta Vigo’s result confirms their La Liga relegation.
Meanwhile, Real now need just a point from their final game against 19th-placed Granada to seal the title – even if Barcelona’s later result denies them the crown on Saturday.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
