REAL MADRID
Why are Real Madrid being presented the LaLiga trophy at their Valdebebas training ground?
The LaLiga champions were set to lift the domestic title at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu against Alavés, but things have changed once more.
Real Madrid were crowned LaLiga champions for the 36th time in their history after they beat Cádiz 3-0 and Barcelona failed to get past Catalan rivals Girona, with their game finishing 4-2. However, the celebrations in the Spanish capital were subdued; with the Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich right around the corner, no official trophy parade was scheduled at the famous Cibeles fountain.
As well as wanting to keep their cool ahead of such a season-defining game next week, Real Madrid weren’t actually given the trophy upon achieving their domestic title success being confirmed. After an initial decision for Los Blancos to celebrate in Granada, it was changed to Tuesday 14 May at the Santiago Bernabéu.
However, now that plan will not happen, either, as Spanish Federation president Pedro Rocha will instead present them with the trophy at their training ground on Sunday. Madrid, despite their feeling that the situation is not ideal, have accepted the decision in order to put an end to the debacle.
Why are Real Madrid celebrating the LaLiga trophy win against Granada?
If the sun hits just right across the stands of the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes, the views can be some of the best in Europe. The Sierra Nevada mountain range looms over the intimate stadium, providing one of the most picturesque backgrounds on the Iberian Peninsula, and this was exactly where Jude Bellingham was set to lift his first league as a merengue.
Reports suggested that it was a decision that came from the RFEF who decided that Madrid were to lift the trophy over 400km from their home fans. However, the decision as to when they will do so - before or after the game - caused problems for the club as Granada could well be relegated after the 90 minutes are up.
When will Real Madrid celebrate the LaLiga trophy win at Cibeles?
The idea is for Madrid to travel back to the capital as soon as possible after the Granada game and celebrations will now take place on Sunday, as soon as the trophy has been handed over by Rocha.
The match in Granada kicks off at 6:30pm local time (12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT) and as such, celebrating on Saturday night after a 431km journey would perhaps not be the best idea in terms of fatigue management from a physical standpoint.
They will travel to the headquarters of the regional government on an open top bus before making their way towards the famous statue of Cibeles where Nacho will present her with the famous trophy in front of the huge crowds that will inevitably line the streets for miles.
Two electronic music events at the Santiago Bernabéu over the following weekend will also prevent the typical fan party that so many have enjoyed over the years. Perhaps getting through to the Champions League final will just have to do.