Real Madrid celebrate Spanish league title with fans after reaching CL final

MADRID, Spain (AP):

Real Madrid celebrated their Spanish league title with fans yesterday, meeting with government officials and parading through the capital's streets.

Madrid clinched their 36th league title last weekend, with four rounds to spare, but they couldn't celebrate the triumph right away because they still had to play the second leg of the semi-finals of the Champions League (CL).

Madrid rallied with two late goals by striker Joselu to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, advancing 3-2 on aggregate to the final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1 in London.

"I'm sure that in three weeks we will be back here," Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos said while addressing the crowd yesterday.

Several thousand fans greeted squad members as they paraded through the city and headed to the club's traditional celebration spot at Cibeles Square. Team captain Nacho Fernandez draped the statue of the goddess Cybele with a Madrid flag and scarf, then lifted the league trophy as fans cheered.

The trophy was handed to the team during a ceremony at the club's training centre.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti wore a Real Madrid scarf and posed for photos with players while smoking a cigar and wearing sunglasses.

Madrid usually also celebrates their titles with fans at the Bernabeu, but the stadium was being used for a concert yesterday.

Madrid won 4-0 at relegated Granada on Saturday, with Granada players keeping the guard of honour tradition of lining up to applaud the champions as they entered the field before kick-off.

Most players and club President Florentino Perez spoke to the crowd, which chanted some of the team's traditional fighting songs.

"This team overcame a situation that looked irreversible," Perez said, referring to the series of injuries that affected players early in the season, including serious knee ligament tears by Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao and David Alaba.

Nacho led a round of applause to the three injured players.