Real Madrid’s first La Liga title in three seasons and just its third in a dozen campaigns, finalized with Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Villareal and emphasized by Barcelona’s simultaneous 2-1 home loss to Osasuna, was notable for the chaos in which Real thrived. In spite of another dramatic season exacerbated by a three-month layoff for the coronavirus pandemic, Zinedine Zidane’s side won 10 straight league matches after the restart, leaving Barca in its wake and claiming its record 34th Spanish title.
But it was remarkable for the sheer staying power of the core of this Real side as well.