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Newly-crowned La Liga champions Real Madrid dropped factors for the primary time because the season’s restart on Sunday in a dramatic 2-2 draw that was not sufficient to avoid wasting Leganes from relegation. Leganes, who wanted to beat Madrid and hope Celta Vigo didn’t win towards backside membership Espanyol, virtually pulled off a miraculous escape however couldn’t discover a winner on the Butarque. The draw means a rotated Madrid aspect surrendered the proper report of 11 victories out of 11 since Spanish soccer got here again from its coronavirus-enforced suspension whereas Karim Benzema fell in need of Lionel Messi within the battle for the golden boot.
Gareth Bale was not noted of Madrid’s squad fully for what may need been his final La Liga fixture for the membership. Zinedine Zidane stated afterwards it was a “techinical decision”.
Messi had earlier scored twice in a 5-Zero win over Alaves, sufficient for him to assert a report seventh ‘Pichichi Trophy’ and to offer Barcelona a lift forward of the return leg of their final 16 Champions League tie towards Napoli subsequent month.
The double took Messi’s league tally to 25 objectives for the season and put him 4 away from Benzema, who endured a quiet night time towards Leganes, with Sergio Ramos and Marco Asensio on course.
The odds had been at all times towards Leganes however a miracle seemed attainable when Roger Assale equalised with 12 minutes left to discover a winner.
But possibilities had been missed and a penalty attraction was turned down, that means they be part of Real Mallorca and Espanyol in Segunda subsequent season.
“The lads are broken,” stated Leganes coach Javier Aguirre. “We had it within our grasp.”
Real Sociedad and Granada, in the meantime, took the final two Europa League spots, with Getafe and Valencia lacking out. Villarreal had already secured fifth place.
Granada thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-Zero and qualification caps an unbelievable season for the membership, who had been solely promoted from Segunda final time period.
“Our aim was to stay up so to finish in the Europa League is a dream for us,” stated Granada striker Roberto Soldado.
Real Sociedad snuck into sixth place after Adnan Januzaj’s 87th-minute objective clinched a 1-1 draw away at Atletico Madrid.
Barca imagine in Euro glory
Messi finishes as La Liga’s high scorer for a report seventh time, pulling away from Telmo Zarra’s six whereas enjoying for Athletic Bilbao within the forties and fifties.
“I’m never that bothered about the individual prizes and I would have preferred it to have come with a league title like before,” added Messi.
Setien stated on Saturday he nonetheless believes Barcelona, at their finest, can win the Champions League subsequent month.
And a glowing attacking show definitely gave a glimpse of what’s attainable, even when Napoli within the final 16, and doubtlessly Bayern Munich within the quarter-finals, will provide a totally completely different take a look at.
There could possibly be health issues for Setien too forward of the second leg towards Napoli. Clement Lenglet hobbled off with what seemed like a groin drawback, with Antoine Griezmann and Samuel Umtiti already out injured.
But Setien has more and more been placing his religion in youth and the 20-year-old Puig impressed once more in midfield whereas 21-year-old Ronald Araujo gave a composed, albeit largely unchallenged, efficiency in defence.
The 17-year-old Ansu Fati opened the scoring on the close to publish earlier than Puig teed up Messi to stride by and end.
Luis Suarez capped an excellent transfer by heading in his 17th league objective after Jordi Alba had volleyed Messi’s go throughout, with one other Puig by ball permitting Nelson Semedo to lash in a fourth.
Messi had the final phrase with a wise end on the half-volley.
Madrid seemed to must have the sport gained when Asensio completed off Isco’s go however Leganes pulled degree as Assale nipped in to arrange a dramatic final 10 minutes.
Promoted
With Celta nonetheless being held, they solely wanted a objective to outlive and Javier Aviles may need bought it solely to miskick on the again publish after which failed to attach from a nook.
Replays confirmed Luka Jovic touched the cross along with his hand however referee Guillermo Cuadra was not satisfied and even goalkeeper Pichu Cuellar going up for a 94th-minute nook couldn’t give Leganes the objective they wanted.
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