Thousands of Atletico Madrid fans defied the authorities by taking to the streets of the Spanish capital to celebrate on Saturday night after victory over Real Valladolid secured their team an 11th league title. As soon as the full-time whistle blew in Valladolid to confirm a 2-1 win, Atleti supporters flocked to the Neptune fountain in the centre of Madrid, in line with tradition but defying Covid-19 rules regarding the wearing of masks and social distancing. 

"I was confident Atletico would win. It was like a final and being against Valladolid, I knew we were going to win," Federico Gonzalez, 46, and among the crowds, told AFP. A large police presence surrounded the fountain, with several vans also present to prevent people from approaching the fountain, which had been lit up in Atletico's red and white colours. Fans waved flags and scarves while others set off flares as darkness fell, the celebrations going on into the night after Atletico's second La Liga title in seven years.