Real Madrid are on the cusp of securing another La Liga title.
Los Blancos are 15 points clear at the top of the standings in the Spanish top flight, meaning it's a matter of when, not if, they will claim the crown. With five matches for the leaders left to play, it would mark a collapse of historic proportions for Madrid to blow the title from here.
Given Karim Benzema's form and the club's overall strength, and Barcelona's slump, Madrid set to claim the crown.
So, here's what the capital club needs to do to confirm the title and claim their 35th league trophy.
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La Liga standings updated
Real Madrid have five matches remaining to collect the points necessary to win the league.
Barcelona had a game in hand, but fell to Rayo Vallecano, seeing the extra game erased without providing a challenge.
| Place | Team | PTS | GP | GD | Next Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Real Madrid | 78 | 33 | +40 | vs. Espanyol, Apr. 30 |
| 2. | Barcelona | 63 | 33 | +28 | vs. Mallorca, May 1 |
| 3. | Sevilla | 63 | 33 | +22 | vs. Cadiz, Apr. 29 |
| 4. | Atletico Madrid | 61 | 33 | +20 | @ Athletic, Apr. 30 |
| 5. | Real Betis | 57 | 33 | +18 | @ Getafe, May 2 |
| 6. | Real Sociedad | 55 | 33 | +1 | @ Rayo, May 1 |
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What do Real Madrid need to win La Liga?
The magic number Carlo Ancelotti's side need to guarantee the crown is one.
To confirm the La Liga title mathematically, Real need to gain just one more point on second-placed Barcelona.
Madrid can take are of that themselves, clinching the title in front of the home fans with a win or draw against Espanyol.
However, if Madrid loses and fails to clinch, the title can still be secured if Barcelona drops points against Mallorca the following day. While that's not how Los Blancos would want it to happen, a league title is a league title.
Real Madrid La Liga title history
Real Madrid have won 34 league titles in the club's illustrious history, with Barcelona the next closest with 26.
Los Blancos have been less successful recently, with the challenging top echelon in La Liga providing the traditional Spanish powerhouse with stiff competition.
This season's eventual crown will mark just their fourth league title in the last 14 years since winning the 2007-08 crown, with Barcelona, by contrast, winning eight in that span.
Going back to 1995, when the Spanish top flight was expanded to 22 teams and introduced three points for a win, this will mark Real's ninth La Liga title in 27 years.
Should they finish with close to the margin at the top of the table they have established currently, it would mark the biggest title-winning gap in that span.
The previous best margin of victory in Real's history is 12 points, which they have achieved twice, first in 1960-61 and again in 1974-75.
Real Madrid league titles since 1995
| Season | Points | Runner-up | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 87 | Barcelona | 5pts |
| 2016-17 | 93 | Barcelona | 3pts |
| 2011-12 | 100 | Barcelona | 9pts |
| 2007-08 | 85 | Villarreal | 8pts |
| 2006-07 | 76 | Barcelona | 0pts |
| 2002-03 | 78 | Real Sociedad | 2pts |
| 2000-01 | 80 | Deportivo La Coruna | 7pts |
| 1996-97 | 92 | Barcelona | 2pts |
La Liga title winners all-time by club
| Club | No. of La Liga Titles | Runners-up | Last La Liga Title Win |
| Real Madrid | 34 | 24 | 2020 |
| Barcelona | 26 | 26 | 2019 |
| Atletico Madrid | 11 | 10 | 2021 |
| Athletic Bilbao | 8 | 7 | 1984 |
| Valencia | 6 | 6 | 2004 |
| Real Sociedad | 2 | 3 | 1982 |
| Deportivo la Coruna | 1 | 5 | 2000 |
| Sevilla | 1 | 4 | 1946 |
| Real Betis | 1 | 0 | 1935 |
How Karim Benzema and Carlo Ancelotti have inspired Real Madrid to the 2021-22 La Liga title
The league title push this season has obviously been a team effort, but it starts and ends with Karim Benzema's sensational form.
The France talisman has spent much of his career at the Bernabeu in Cristiano Ronaldo's shadow, but this season he has finally broken out and pushed for his own stardom.
Benzema began the season with nine goals in his team's first eight La Liga matches, including a hat-trick against Celta Vigo, and he has continued to lead the charge.
He currently sits on 25 goals from 28 league matches so far this term.
Also transforming into a world-class player this season has been Vinicius Jr., who has become one of the first names on the Real Madrid teamsheet.
The Brazilian winger has become both a creative and goalscoring force and developed a critical partnership with Benzema up front.
Luka Modric has returned to his dominant midfield presence even at 36 years old, at a time when it appeared for a while that he had fallen off the pace.
And while Real Madrid's defence hasn't been the most stout in Europe, Eder Militao has emerged as a standout choice at centre-back.
Real Madrid key 2021-22 league results
| Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 28, 2021 | Real Betis 0, Real Madrid 1 | Highlights |
| Sept. 12, 2021 | Real Madrid 5, Celta Vigo 2 | Highlights |
| Sept. 19, 2021 | Valencia 1, Real Madrid 2 | Highlights |
| Sept. 22, 2021 | Real Madrid 6, Mallorca 1 | Highlights |
| Oct. 24, 2021 | Barcelona 1, Real Madrid 2 | Highlights |
| Nov. 28, 2021 | Real Madrid 2, Sevilla 1 | Highlights |
| Dec. 12, 2021 | Real Madrid 2, Atletico Madrid 0 | Highlights |
| Jan. 8, 2022 | Real Madrid 4, Valencia 1 | Highlights |
| Mar. 5, 2022 | Real Madrid 4, Real Sociedad 1 | Highlights |
| Apr. 2, 2022 | Celta Vigo 1, Real Madrid 2 | Highlights |
| Apr. 17, 2022 | Sevilla 2, Real Madrid 3 | Highlights |
What other trophies can Real Madrid win in 2021-22?
Ancelotti has already clinched one trophy on his return to Madrid this season as Karim Benzema inspired Los Blancos to the 2021-22 Supercopa de Espana crown.
They suffered a Copa del Rey quarterfinal exit against Athletic Bilbao, ending any chance of a major domestic treble, but they are still on course for a La Liga, Supercopa and Champions League triple.
Ancelotti's side produced two fantastic fightback performances to overcome Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea in the Champions League knockout stages, and they next face Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in the semifinals next week.