In the end the calendar was cruel, serving up a metaphor for the season, for football and for life. Like something out of a sitcom, someone had double booked a celebration and a funeral. Same time, same place: mid-May, a Saturday evening at Los Carmenes.
Carlo Ancelotti wore the shades, smoked the cigar, danced with Eduardo Camavinga, sang a while, and then got back to work ensuring they would be back again a fortnight later. Madrid had won the title seven days earlier and there were still three weeks to go.
When La Liga reached its actual final day, it was already finished. So they immediately changed the kick-off times to every game bar one, because, hey, they're only fans, right? For the first time ever, the top eight and the bottom three were confirmed before the season concluded.
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