After the match against Athletic Bilbao ended, Real Madrid returned home.
On May 23, Madrid would host Villarreal at the Bernabéu in the final round of the La Liga season.
The season had finally reached its last moment.
That day, Madrid fans arrived around the Bernabéu early.
They wore Real Madrid shirts, sang Hala Madrid, and filled the streets around the stadium with noise long before kickoff.
The atmosphere was lively from the start.
Some fans even held up replica La Liga trophies, cheering and celebrating among the crowd as if the party had already begun.
For Madrid supporters, tonight was simple. They only needed to enjoy the joy of winning the title.
At half past eight in the evening, Real Madrid vs Villarreal officially kicked off.
Because this was the final round, the result could no longer change either team's position in La Liga, so both managers sent out rotated lineups.
Of course, in order to continue their winning streak, Madrid still included several main players in the starting eleven. Benzema led the line up front, while the experienced legendary midfield trio sat in the middle of the pitch.
As for Real Madrid's current number one star, Theodore Bjorn, he started the match on the bench.
If the team fell into danger, Zidane would immediately send Theodore on to solve the problem.
However, the final match went very smoothly.
In the 33rd minute, Madrid took the lead when Benzema broke through Villarreal's goal from the penalty spot.
Ten minutes later, Modrić scored again with a long-range strike from outside the box.
With goals from those two main players, Madrid ultimately defeated the Yellow Submarine 2–0.
All thirty-eight league rounds had ended.
Real Madrid won the 2020–21 La Liga title with a terrifying record of thirty-eight victories from thirty-eight matches.
"The final whistle goes at the Bernabéu," Rob Palmer announced. "Real Madrid have completed the perfect La Liga season, winning all thirty-eight matches and lifting the title in a campaign that will be remembered for a very long time."
"It is an astonishing achievement," Terry Gibson said. "To go through a league season with a perfect winning record is almost impossible, but this Real Madrid side have done it with power, consistency, and Theodore Bjorn leading them through every difficult moment."
At the award ceremony, when Theodore went up to receive his medal, the huge Bernabéu instantly erupted with deafening cheers.
Every Madrid fan stood from their seat and gave Theodore thunderous applause from the heart.
They knew very well that if there was one player they needed to thank the most for Real Madrid winning La Liga in this fashion, it was Theodore.
Every time Madrid encountered a crisis, Theodore could always step forward calmly and solve the problem.
On top of that, Theodore had also broken Messi's previous single-season scoring record this season, becoming the new holder of La Liga's single-season goal record.
This season, Theodore scored a total of sixty-nine goals and provided thirty assists.
Both numbers broke historical La Liga records.
When Ramos, as team captain, lifted the La Liga trophy, every Madrid fan in the stands began moving with the rhythm of the celebration, enjoying that wonderful championship moment together with the team.
However, for Madrid's players, this was still not the time to truly celebrate.
Next, Madrid had two extremely important finals waiting for them.
One was the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, while the other was the Champions League final against Manchester City.
Because of that, after the award ceremony ended, Madrid's players did not drink champagne or hold a victory banquet. Instead, they all returned to their own homes to rest.
...
One week later, Madrid would first face Barcelona at the Mestalla.
Although Madrid had already beaten Barça three times in all competitions this season, Zidane still did not dare be careless.
He knew very well that Barcelona would definitely want revenge in the Copa del Rey final.
Although Madrid's players did not celebrate wildly, Madrid fans were already in absolute ecstasy.
In every major bar across Madrid, fans wearing Real Madrid shirts could be seen everywhere, sitting together in groups, drinking and celebrating the perfect league campaign.
That day, Spain's major media outlets also released reports one after another.
📰 AS: The Galáctico Machine Is Back! Real Madrid Win La Liga With Thirty-Eight Victories From Thirty-Eight Matches!
📰 MARCA: La Liga Belongs to Madrid! Theodore Bjorn Scores Sixty-Nine Goals and Provides Thirty Assists in a Record-Breaking Season!
📰 Madrid Sports: Perfect League Campaign Completed! Zidane's Madrid Now Turn Their Eyes to the Copa del Rey and Champions League!
📰 Mundo Deportivo: Real Madrid Make History! Thirty-Eight Straight Wins Leave La Liga Rivals Far Behind!
📰 La Liga Central: Theodore Bjorn Rewrites Spain's Record Books With Sixty-Nine Goals and Thirty Assists!
Theodore's name became the topic every Madrid fan was discussing.
Almost every conversation was filled with praise for him.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Thirty-eight matches, thirty-eight wins. This Real Madrid side has just completed the perfect La Liga season.
| ↳ 📱 @BlancoPulse
| Reply: And Theodore is the main reason. Every time Madrid had a problem, he solved it.
📱 @LaLigaCentral ✔
Theodore Bjorn finishes La Liga with sixty-nine goals and thirty assists. Ninety-nine direct goal contributions in one league season is absurd.
| ↳ 📱 @UCLMadridista
| Reply: Some players don't reach sixty-nine goals in their entire career. Theodore did it in one season.
📱 @FlorentinoEra ✔
Last July, people criticized Florentino for spending more than €320 million on Theodore. Now that transfer looks like the deal that rebuilt Real Madrid's dynasty.
| ↳ 📱 @MadridModeOn
| Reply: I owe Florentino an apology. He brought Madrid a historic superstar.
By the time Theodore returned to his villa, it was already deep into the night.
After placing his medal in the cabinet, he was just about to wash up and sleep when he received a large number of congratulatory messages.
Ingrid, Dilraba, Ma Fanshu, as well as Theodore's former teammates at Aston Villa, had all sent their congratulations.
Because there were too many people congratulating him, Theodore could only choose to thank them through a group message.
In truth, Theodore did not feel particularly excited. Instead, he was calm and composed.
For him and for Real Madrid, this season's journey had not yet ended.
The Copa del Rey final and the Champions League final were just as important.
Only after winning those two finals would Theodore be able to truly relax.
...
Time passed quickly.
Over the next seven days, both Madrid and Barcelona made full preparations.
In the blink of an eye, June 1 arrived.
Before the match, at the Copa del Rey final press conference, Barcelona head coach Koeman made a firm declaration.
"We have lost to Real Madrid too many times this season, and all of those defeats were heavy ones," Koeman said. "That is something we cannot accept."
His expression was extremely serious.
"In my view, the current Barcelona absolutely have enough ability to defeat Real Madrid. If Barcelona cannot beat Madrid in tomorrow's match, I will personally resign."
The moment Koeman said those words, the press conference immediately fell into an uproar.
Reporters exchanged glances, then quickly raised their hands, eager to ask follow-up questions.
For Barcelona, this Copa del Rey final was no longer only about a trophy.
It had become a battle for dignity, a chance to avoid being beaten by Real Madrid for the fourth time in a single season, and perhaps Koeman's last chance to prove that he could still lead the team.
For Real Madrid, it was another step toward a historic treble.
And for Theodore Bjorn, it was another final waiting to be conquered.