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LaLiga Review: Valladolid suffer final day heartbreak and Benzema signs off with a goal

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The final round of the season in Spain’s top flight saw drama at the bottom, podium places decided, and European qualification secured. Here’s our expert with the main talking points.

By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert

Agony and ecstasy in Valladolid

When the final whistle sounded at the José Zorilla on Sunday night, Getafe’s players celebrated as Valladolid’s sunk to their knees. The goalless draw meant survival for the visitors, but relegation for the home side. In an evening of tension on the final day of LaLiga, they were the losers in a dramatic six-way relegation battle.

With Elche and Espanyol already down, six teams went into the final round of matches with the same goal: to finish 17th or higher. Valladolid started the day in 18th place on 39 points, but survival was in their hands. And they were at home.

All six clubs went into their last match depending on themselves. Cádiz, Getafe and Valencia started the day with 41 points, with Almería and Celta Vigo on 40 and Valladolid on 39. Cádiz were away to Elche, with Valencia up against Real Betis in Seville and Almería in action at Espanyol. Meanwhile, Celta were at home to champions Barcelona and Valladolid hosted Getafe in the only direct meeting between teams still involved in the fight for survival.

Many had picked Celta to go down. The Galicians had lost seven of their last nine LaLiga games and looked vulnerable, but their record at home to Barcelona has been strong in recent years and this was a good time to be facing the champions. Apart from Marc-André ter Stegen seeking a new clean sheet record, Xavi’s side had little to play for. Franck Kessié looked to have put Barça in front early on, but was marginally offside. Balaídos breathed a sigh of relief. Then, young Gabri Veiga made himself a hero with two goals either side of the break which were enough to seal a 2-1 win for Celta despite an Ansu Fati header late in the game. The midfielder’s second had been a mishit cross, but who cares? Certainly nobody at Balaídos.

In the end, Celta were the only team of the six to win. Cádiz drew 1-1 at Elche and Valencia tied Betis by the same scoreline in Sevilla, despite falling behind inside a minute at the Benito Villamarín. That was enough for both to move clear of the drop zone. And as the minutes ticked away, attention turned to events in Barcelona and Valladolid.

Almería led early against Espanyol but trailed twice to the Catalans. At 2-1 and 3-2 down, they were heading for relegation because even though their goal difference was better than Valladolid’s, their inferior head-to-head record in the matches between the two teams this season saw them drop below the Blanquivioletas.

But Adri Embarba brought Almería back into it with two equalising goals and his second, from the penalty spot after 87 minutes at Espanyol, sealed a 3-3 draw which was enough to earn his team a place in LaLiga next season at the expense of Valladolid. Unable to find a way past a stubborn Getafe, Paulo Pezzolano’s side head to Segunda. In any of the past three seasons, 40 points would have been enough to stay up, but not this time.

“Together, we will be back,” the club said in a statement after the game, vowing to “work tirelessly” to return to the top flight. Valladolid were also relegated two seasons ago and bounced back straight away. A repeat of that would be handy next season. 

Benzema signs off with a goal as Real Madrid pip Atlético

Karim Benzema started for Real Madrid earlier on Sunday in his final appearance for the club after it was announced that the French forward will be leaving this summer. And the 35-year-old signed off with a goal, his 354th for Los Blancos, which earned his side a 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Club and was enough for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to finish second as Atlético were denied a win by Villarreal in added time at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

“I have coached one of the best in the world,” the Italian said of the Frenchman. “Not just as a striker, but as a complete footballer. He’s a great person, friendly, humble, serious… We can’t be happy, but we have to respect it. He has earned the right to decide. He has done legendary things, unforgettable things.”

Benzema’s penalty came after 72 minutes, with Athletic having seen a spot-kick of their own denied as Mikel Vesga’s shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois early in the game. The French forward’s goal cancelled out Oihan Sancet’s goal for the Basques after 49 minutes and the 35-year-old went off to an ovation from the Bernabéu moments later. His final contribution as a Madrid player also saw Real finish above Atlético.

Diego Simeone’s side trailed early on to a Nicolás Jackson goal at Villarreal, but turned the game around thanks to a brace from Ángel Correa. The Rojiblancos later had Axel Witsel sent off with 20 minutes left for a foul on Giovani Lo Celso when the Argentine was through on goal and ended up conceding in the 92nd minute as 20-year-old striker Jorge Pascual netted his first goal for the club.

Osasuna qualify for Europe

Two goals from Ante Budimir early in the second half set Osasuna on their way to a 2-1 win over Girona and saw the Pamplona-based side secure a seventh-placed finish in LaLiga, two points ahead of northern rivals Athletic Club.

Osasuna, Copa del Rey finalists earlier this season and already qualified for next season’s Supercopa, will take their place in the Europa Conference League next season as European football returns to El Sadar.

Europa League winners Sevilla will join Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético and Real Sociedad in next season’s Champions League. Meanwhile, Villarreal (fifth) and Real Betis (sixth) have qualified for the Europa League. It should be fun.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the 2022/23 LaLiga season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

LaLiga Review: Valladolid suffer final day heartbreak and Benzema signs off with a goal

The final round of the season in Spain’s top flight saw drama at the bottom, podium places decided, and European qualification secured. Here’s our expert with the main talking points.

By Ben Hayward, LaLiga expert

Agony and ecstasy in Valladolid

When the final whistle sounded at the José Zorilla on Sunday night, Getafe’s players celebrated as Valladolid’s sunk to their knees. The goalless draw meant survival for the visitors, but relegation for the home side. In an evening of tension on the final day of LaLiga, they were the losers in a dramatic six-way relegation battle.

With Elche and Espanyol already down, six teams went into the final round of matches with the same goal: to finish 17th or higher. Valladolid started the day in 18th place on 39 points, but survival was in their hands. And they were at home.

All six clubs went into their last match depending on themselves. Cádiz, Getafe and Valencia started the day with 41 points, with Almería and Celta Vigo on 40 and Valladolid on 39. Cádiz were away to Elche, with Valencia up against Real Betis in Seville and Almería in action at Espanyol. Meanwhile, Celta were at home to champions Barcelona and Valladolid hosted Getafe in the only direct meeting between teams still involved in the fight for survival.

Many had picked Celta to go down. The Galicians had lost seven of their last nine LaLiga games and looked vulnerable, but their record at home to Barcelona has been strong in recent years and this was a good time to be facing the champions. Apart from Marc-André ter Stegen seeking a new clean sheet record, Xavi’s side had little to play for. Franck Kessié looked to have put Barça in front early on, but was marginally offside. Balaídos breathed a sigh of relief. Then, young Gabri Veiga made himself a hero with two goals either side of the break which were enough to seal a 2-1 win for Celta despite an Ansu Fati header late in the game. The midfielder’s second had been a mishit cross, but who cares? Certainly nobody at Balaídos.

In the end, Celta were the only team of the six to win. Cádiz drew 1-1 at Elche and Valencia tied Betis by the same scoreline in Sevilla, despite falling behind inside a minute at the Benito Villamarín. That was enough for both to move clear of the drop zone. And as the minutes ticked away, attention turned to events in Barcelona and Valladolid.

Almería led early against Espanyol but trailed twice to the Catalans. At 2-1 and 3-2 down, they were heading for relegation because even though their goal difference was better than Valladolid’s, their inferior head-to-head record in the matches between the two teams this season saw them drop below the Blanquivioletas.

But Adri Embarba brought Almería back into it with two equalising goals and his second, from the penalty spot after 87 minutes at Espanyol, sealed a 3-3 draw which was enough to earn his team a place in LaLiga next season at the expense of Valladolid. Unable to find a way past a stubborn Getafe, Paulo Pezzolano’s side head to Segunda. In any of the past three seasons, 40 points would have been enough to stay up, but not this time.

“Together, we will be back,” the club said in a statement after the game, vowing to “work tirelessly” to return to the top flight. Valladolid were also relegated two seasons ago and bounced back straight away. A repeat of that would be handy next season. 

Benzema signs off with a goal as Real Madrid pip Atlético

Karim Benzema started for Real Madrid earlier on Sunday in his final appearance for the club after it was announced that the French forward will be leaving this summer. And the 35-year-old signed off with a goal, his 354th for Los Blancos, which earned his side a 1-1 draw at home to Athletic Club and was enough for Carlo Ancelotti’s side to finish second as Atlético were denied a win by Villarreal in added time at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

“I have coached one of the best in the world,” the Italian said of the Frenchman. “Not just as a striker, but as a complete footballer. He’s a great person, friendly, humble, serious… We can’t be happy, but we have to respect it. He has earned the right to decide. He has done legendary things, unforgettable things.”

Benzema’s penalty came after 72 minutes, with Athletic having seen a spot-kick of their own denied as Mikel Vesga’s shot was saved by Thibaut Courtois early in the game. The French forward’s goal cancelled out Oihan Sancet’s goal for the Basques after 49 minutes and the 35-year-old went off to an ovation from the Bernabéu moments later. His final contribution as a Madrid player also saw Real finish above Atlético.

Diego Simeone’s side trailed early on to a Nicolás Jackson goal at Villarreal, but turned the game around thanks to a brace from Ángel Correa. The Rojiblancos later had Axel Witsel sent off with 20 minutes left for a foul on Giovani Lo Celso when the Argentine was through on goal and ended up conceding in the 92nd minute as 20-year-old striker Jorge Pascual netted his first goal for the club.

Osasuna qualify for Europe

Two goals from Ante Budimir early in the second half set Osasuna on their way to a 2-1 win over Girona and saw the Pamplona-based side secure a seventh-placed finish in LaLiga, two points ahead of northern rivals Athletic Club.

Osasuna, Copa del Rey finalists earlier this season and already qualified for next season’s Supercopa, will take their place in the Europa Conference League next season as European football returns to El Sadar.

Europa League winners Sevilla will join Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético and Real Sociedad in next season’s Champions League. Meanwhile, Villarreal (fifth) and Real Betis (sixth) have qualified for the Europa League. It should be fun.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the 2022/23 LaLiga season live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.