Real Madrid draw relegates Leganes
Newly-crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid dropped points for the first time since the season’s restart on Sunday in a dramatic 2-2 draw that was not enough to save Leganes from relegation.
Leganes, who needed to beat Madrid and also hope Celta Vigo failed to win against bottom club Espanyol, almost pulled off a miraculous escape but could not find a winner.
The draw means a rotated Madrid side surrendered the perfect record of 11 victories out of 11 since Spanish football came back from its coronavirusenforced suspension, while Karim Benzema fell short of Lionel Messi in the battle for the golden boot.
Gareth Bale was left out of Madrid’s squad completely for what might have been his last La Liga fixture for the club.
Zinedine Zidane said afterwards it was a “technical decision”.
The odds were always against Leganes but a miracle looked possible when Roger Assale equalised with 12 minutes left to find a winner.
But chances were missed and a penalty appeal was turned down, meaning they join Real Mallorca and Espanyol in Segunda next season.
“The lads are broken,” said Leganes coach Javier Aguirre. “We had it within our grasp.” Real Sociedad and Granada, meanwhile, took the last two Europa League spots, with Getafe and Valencia missing out. Villarreal had already secured fifth place.
Granada thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 and qualification caps an incredible season for the club, who were only promoted from Segunda last term.
“Our aim was to stay up so to finish in the Europa League is a dream for us,” said Granada striker Roberto Soldado.
Real Sociedad snuck into sixth place after Adnan Januzaj’s 87th-minute goal clinched a 1-1 draw away at Atletico Madrid.
Setien said on Saturday he still believed Barcelona, at their best, could win the Champions League next month.
Clement Lenglet hobbled off with what looked like a groin problem, with Antoine Griezmann and Samuel Umtiti already out injured.
Madrid looked to have the game won when Asensio finished off Isco’s pass but Leganes pulled level as Assale nipped.
With Celta still being held, they only needed a goal to survive and Javier Aviles might have got it only to miskick at the back post and then failed to connect from a corner.
Replays showed Luka Jovic touched the cross with his hand but referee Guillermo Cuadra was not convinced and even goalkeeper Pichu Cuellar going up for a 94th-minute corner could not give Leganes the goal they needed.