Madrid, April 16 (BNA): Sevilla needed a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid to finish last in the Champions League on Sunday.
Barcelona finished second, and a place in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, after a 0-0 draw at Getafe, who escaped relegation, the Associated Press reported.
Youssef Al-Nusayri’s header in the 85th minute secured a place in Sevilla at the top of European clubs for the third consecutive season. Third-placed Atletico, who have already qualified, opened the scoring with Jose Maria Gimenez in the first half.
The loss could have left Sevilla in a tense position in the final round of next weekend as Real Betis beat Granada 2-0 to move closer to the match. The equalizer kept Sevilla three points ahead, with a better tiebreak win against the fifth-placed team. Pettis.
“Mission accomplished,” said Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui. “What a great season! The team deserved this award.”
Betis, led by Manuel Pellegrini, had already secured a place in the Europa League by winning the Copa del Rey, and he will be joined in second division by sixth-placed Real Sociedad, who beat Villarreal 2-1 on Sunday.
Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao, who beat Osasuna 2-0, will fight next weekend for a place in the European third tier. Villarreal visits Barcelona, while Bilbao plays in Seville.
Real Madrid, who had already grabbed the title and are focusing on the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28, drew 1-1 in Cadiz.
Alaves became the second team to be relegated after the 3-1 loss to Levante, which had been demoted in the previous round.
Granada, Mallorca and Cadiz will fight to avoid relegation in the last round.
European League
Unai Emery’s Villarreal had a chance to survive in the battle for a place in the Europa League, but allowed the visitors to Sociedad to recover for a second-half victory to secure last place in the second division competition.
Villarreal, who reached the Champions League semi-finals this season, are now in danger of losing the last Europa League berth after Bilbao moved up a point off seventh place. Bilbao holds the tiebreak head-on against Villarreal.
link struggle
Mallorca exited the relegation zone thanks to a stoppage-time goal by Abdon Prats in a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano.
“It was unbelievable,” Pratts said. “I hope this goal can keep the team in the first division.”
The victory left Mallorca just outside the relegation zone, and tied on points with Cadiz but ahead in the head-to-head tiebreak. A win in Osasuna in the middle of the table next weekend will ensure that the club owned by American businessman Robert Sarver remains in the First Division. Cadiz will play in last place Alaves.
Granada, one point ahead of Mallorca, will host Espanyol in the final round.
farewell suarez
Striker Luis Suarez turned emotional as he received a standing ovation from Atletico Madrid fans after he was substituted in the second half in what was likely his last game for the club.
“Thank you for making us champions,” said a banner at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.
Suarez was key to the team’s title run last season after joining from Barcelona, but gradually lost his place at the start and played just a few minutes on the bench recently.
Atletico are five points behind Barcelona, who got the result they needed against Getafe to secure the Spanish Super Cup berth in advance.
Madrid graphics
Focusing on Liverpool, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti once again rested some of his players – including striker Karim Benzema, striker Vinicius Junior, midfielder Luka Modric and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – in the draw with relegation-threatened Cadiz.
Cadiz missed an opportunity to leave with the win when striker Alvaro Negredo kicked the penalty kick in the 61st minute by Ukraine’s Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. A home win would have put Cadiz two points outside the relegation zone.
Cadiz won one of their last five matches after a surprising 1-0 victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
Madrid enters the final with 85 points, 12 points behind Barcelona.