Real Madrid are the 2016-2017 Champions of La Liga! Quick take / hot take

CAMPEONES!!! CAMPEONES!!! Defeating Malaga in a 0-2 scoreline, Real Madrid secured first place in La Liga, crowning them champions for the first time since 2012. It came down to the last day, but Madrid were not to be denied. Here’s Alex McVey with some quick take / hot take after the La Liga victory.

The party is probably already underway at the Plaza de Cibeles. Real Madrid did it!

After a long draught, Real Madrid have finally secured the La Liga title. There were always plenty of doubters. Is Zidane actually any good, or is he just lucky? Well, Madrid are winning, but are they really playing good football? Is Ronaldo past his prime?

None of that matters now. Real Madrid just won a well-deserved La Liga title, and did it in style.

Not a single defense this season has been able to shut down Real Madrid. An opposing goalkeeper hasn’t kept a clean sheet against Real Madrid since Manchester City in LAST YEAR’S Champions League semifinal. That’s just extraordinary.

Real Madrid put in a complete performance against Malaga. Madrid only needed to draw, and they came out to win, and then to defend their win. While there were certainly a few nervy moments in the match, ultimately the win was never in question.

First of all, the Isco to Ronaldo connection is really scary good. Ronaldo’s past 3 goals have all been assisted by Isco. And while this pass was just an absolute dandy, it took major skill from Ronaldo to run onto it, past Kameni, to slide it through without question.

Ronaldo has been stepping up big at the tail end of this season, and is making a serious case for winning ANOTHER Balon D’or.

Also, shout out to Keylor Navas, who is proving once again why Real Madrid leapt at the opportunity to scoop him up after the World Cup.

Navas kept a clean sheet, something of a rarity for him this season. After a really shaky start, Navas is finding his form at just the right time. His positioning was perfect, and his diving one-handed save to stop Sandro’s beautiful free-kick was utterly sublime.

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are the best damn midfield partnership in the world. Casemiro is fine. Maybe even good. But it doesn’t really matter who you throw in next to them, when you’ve got Modric and Kroos on your side. They were absolutely all over the place tonight.

Also, shout out to Karim Benzema, who really shut his haters up at the tail end of this season.

He’s been connecting well with Isco and Ronaldo, and has been consistent in his usual performance of the unrecognized dirty work involved in holding together Madrid’s attack.

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But finally he’s producing goals and assists when it counts. Benzema’s goal allowed Madrid to calm the nerves a bit in the second half, knowing that Malaga needed to score 3 to take away the title.

Finally, Zinedine Zidane. You beautiful, beautiful man.

Let’s dispatch forever with the idea that Zidane is not a good coach. Zidane deserves enormous credit for getting the most out of Cristiano Ronaldo. He is able to do what no other coach has ever been able to: manage Ronaldo’s ego; Zidane convinced Ronaldo that it was worthwhile sitting out the matches against the La Liga bottom dwellers if it meant being in peak form when it came time to win some trophies. For that alone, Zidane is definitely the coach of the year in La Liga.

This was a victory for the whole squad, from your Fabio Coentraos and Danilos to your Gareth Bales and Cristiano Ronaldos. It demonstrated the essence of Madridismo. Vamos, a Cibeles, Vamos Real Madrid!