La Liga: Koke guides Atletico to second spot
MADRID: Atletico Madrid clinched second spot in La Liga and ensured they will finish above Real Madrid for the first time in four years after winning 1-0 at Getafe on Saturday as Villarreal sealed an automatic Europa League spot by beating Deportivo La Coruna 4-2.
Real Betis drew an exciting local derby with Sevilla 2-2 to a Europa League place and they will finish above their city rivals for the first time in five seasons, although the point assured Sevilla of seventh spot and a playoff berth for Europe’s secondary competition.
BALE STARS AS REAL THRASH CELTA VIGO 6-0
Gareth Bale scored two fine goals in what could be his last appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid thumped Celta Vigo 6-0 in their last home game of the season.
Atletico are second in the standings on 78 points, three ahead of Real Madrid with one game left and Atletico’s superior head-to-head record means they finish above their neighbours for the first time since winning the title in 2014.
Villarreal are fifth on 60, Betis sixth on 60 and Sevilla seventh on 55, three above Getafe and with a better head-to-head record than the Madrid side.
Champions Barcelona, on 90 points, visit Levante on Sunday.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone fielded a full-strength team against neighbours Getafe despite playing the Europa League final against Olympique de Marseille next Wednesday and his side took the lead in the eighth minute when midfielder Koke arrowed the ball into the bottom corner.
Getafe were awarded a penalty late in the second half but Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak guessed right and beat away Moroccan midfielder Faycal Fajr’s spot-kick to preserve the visiting side’s lead.
INTER MILAN CRASH, ROMA QUALIFY
ROME: Inter Milan crashed to a 2-1 defeat to Sassuolo at the San Siro on Saturday which ensured that Roma get to play Champions League football next season.
Matteo Politano and Domenico Berardi scored in either half with Sassuolo goalkeeper Andrea Consigli proving heroic for the visitors to severely undermine Inter’s slim hopes of elite European action.
The defeat means third-placed Roma -- coached by former Sassuolo boss Eusebio Di Francesco -- are sure to finish in the top four and return to the Champions League after losing in the semifinals to Liverpool this month.
Inter are two points behind fourth-placed Lazio who can rubber stamp their ticket to the Champions League if they beat lowly Crotone . If not, both Lazio and Inter go head-to-head next week in the Stadio
Olimpico.