Vini nets 2 as Madrid celebrate title with 5-0 win
Vinicius Junior scored twice as newly-crowned LaLiga champions Real Madrid thrashed visitors Alaves 5-0 on Tuesday after the hosts had paraded the trophy in front of the home fans before the game.
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Vinicius Junior scored twice as newly-crowned LaLiga champions Real Madrid thrashed visitors Alavés 5-0 on Tuesday after the hosts had paraded the trophy in front of the home fans before the game.
Madrid, who had sealed the title with four games to spare, celebrated their 36th league crown with their fans in the Spanish capital on Sunday, after reaching the Champions League final earlier in the week.
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They remained unbeaten at home in the league this season and will hope to go undefeated across an entire home league campaign for the first time since 2019-20.
"I'm very happy with the game, we were serious from the start," Vinicius told Spanish TV. "We need to get in form, we have one game left to finish off the season.
"I'm at my best. Now we have time to train and that means we can feel calm about doing a good job and getting to the final at Wembley better than ever."
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for Madrid in the 10th minute, netting with a cushioned volley from a Toni Kroos cross, and Vinicius doubled the advantage from point-blank range before the half-hour mark.
Federico Valverde put Real 3-0 up at the break, unleashing an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net in first-half stoppage time.
Despite being under constant pressure, 11th-placed Alavés had some early attempts on goal and continued to test keeper Thibaut Courtois in the second half.
The Belgian, who missed most of the season through injury, kept out an excellent Ianis Hagi shot heading for the bottom corner, making his case before Carlo Ancelotti makes a final decision on his lineup for the Champions League final.
"I feel good," Courtois told Real Madrid TV. "I understand that there might be some doubts when you come back. But I knew I'd come back stronger. I'm the same Courtois or even better.
"Maybe I needed a game like today, with a lot of shots. I needed those close-range shots, quick, reflexes. I felt proud of the save low, to the left. What I've been doing in training, you're seeing now on the pitch."
Vinicius increased the lead once more in the 70th minute from a precise cross by Bellingham that the Brazilian fired into the far top corner, and substitute Arda Güler sealed the win with a low finish after pouncing on a rebound.
Bellingham has both scored and assisted in the same LaLiga game for the fourth time this season, more than any other player in the competition in 2023-24.
"We have a very good connection," Vinicius said of Bellingham. "I always say that I admire him, I'm a fan of his, and I do everything possible for him to adapt as quickly as he can to this group and this football.
"We're both happy. Let's hope he scores more goals and finishes as top scorer."
Madrid travel to Villarreal on Sunday before hosting Real Betis on May 25 ahead of their Wembley showdown against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.
ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Reuters contributed to this report.
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