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First division – day 37

Real Madrid are league champions for the 34th time in their history after they beat Villarreal 2-1 in the penultimate game of the season! Needing a tenth win in a row to be sure of the title, Benzema put them in front from a Modric assist on the half hour mark. The French striker made it two with a twice-taken penalty after Chakla brought down Ramos in the area after the interval, but Iborra headed in a Mario cross to set up a tight finish. As it happened though, Madrid would have been champions even if they had lost, as their rivals Barcelona were beaten 1-2 by Osasuna in the Nou Camp at the same time (all key matches were synchronised today). José Arnáiz turned in a cross from Estupiñan with a quarter of an hour on the clock, and although Messi levelled with a free kick, Roberto Torres got the winner in time added on, even though his side were down to ten men by then. Barcelona have to settle for second place and a spot in next season’s Champions League together with Atlético Madrid, who beat city neighbours Getafe 0-2 with second half goals from Llorente and Thomas, and fourth placed Sevilla, who drew 0-0 at Real Sociedad.

The three Europa League spots are still open however, with fifth placed Villarreal at least sure of one of them. Real Sociedad’s point takes them above Getafe to sixth, but two sides are now just a point below Getafe, Valencia, who beat bottom club Espanyol 1-0 thanks to an early strike from Gameiro, and Granada, who came from behind to beat Mallorca 1-2, goals from Víctor Díaz and Carlos Fernández overturning Cucho Hernández’s earlier strike. The defeat takes Mallorca down to the second division, but Leganés are still in with a fighting chance of survival after they won 0-2 at Athletic Bilbao. The Basque side still had an option of making it to the Europa League places, but keeper Unai Simón was sent off with only a quarter of the game gone, and Guerrero and Assalé scored twice in the last ten minutes to take their team to within a point of Celta, 2-3 losers against Levante. The visitors went two up with early strikes from Bardhi, and although Santi Mina and Aspas levelled it before the break, Mayoral got the winner after the restart. Alavés are safe for another season though after a 1-2 win at Betis, Joselu and Rodrigo Ely scoring in the second half before Loren got a last minute consolation for the hosts. One other match on Thursday with nothing at stake, Eibar beating Valladolid 3-1 in an early kick-off to move three points clear of their opponents in the rankings. (16.07.20)