Barcelona secured the La Liga title with time to spare this season, but much was still to be decided on the final weekend of the campaign.
It was Real Sociedad that triumphed in the race for fourth, with their 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna enough to secure a Champions League berth with Valencia losing 4-3 to Sevilla.
That defeat for Deportivo relegated the club on 35 points, meanwhile, with Real Zaragoza and Real Mallorca also dropping out of the league.
Celta Vigo did secure their spot in La Liga for another season, however, with a 15th minute strike from Natxo Insa enough to record all three points against Espanyol.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Well, it has been an enthralling season in La Liga, but we are a long way from its conclusion with drama expected this evening. As mentioned, the league title has already been decided with Barcelona claiming the crown, but the race for fourth and the battle to survive the drop is sure to bring plenty of twists and turns throughout the evening.
Full set of fixtures:
Granada vs. Getafe
Sevilla vs. Valencia
Deportivo vs. Real Sociedad
Celta Vigo vs. Espanyol
Real Mallorca vs. Real Valladolid
Real Zaragoza vs. Atletico Madrid
Levante vs. Real Betis
Rayo Vallecano vs. Athletic Bilbao
It is not too difficult to pick out the standout matches from that list with Valencia facing a tough trip to Sevilla, while Real Sociedad travel to relegation-threatened Deportivo. As it stands, Valencia occupy fourth place by two points, but they are up against a Sevilla side that has won 12 league matches on their own turf this season.
Ninth position, meanwhile, should be enough to book a spot in the Europa League with Malaga currently banned from competing, but much depends on an appeal from the club. As it stands, Malaga sit sixth, with Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano seventh and eighth respectively. Sevilla, however, cannot finish higher than ninth regardless of their result against Valencia.
Here we go then. All eight La Liga fixtures are now underway. Just a quick word on the Champions League positions. Should Sociedad and Valencia finish level on points, then the former would qualify based on their better head-to-head record. That would be the cruellest of outcomes for Valencia. Be sure to remain with us as the evening unfolds. It promises to be some conclusion.
The grand finale in Spanish football is upon us. Just a reminder that three point for Deportivo against Sociedad would secure their spot in La Liga for another season. Their opponents, meanwhile, need the three points to finish in fourth. No goals anywhere in the opening two minutes, but Sociedad have started brightly in their respective match.
As it stands, Mallorca would sit bottom of the table on 34 points, the same number as Real Zaragoza, while Celta Vigo would also be relegated on 35 points. Just a bit of team news from around the grounds - no Radamel Falcao for Atletico Madrid, who has agreed to join Monaco. Diego Costa therefore comes into the team alongside Adrian Lopez in attack. They are up against Real Zaragoza who are in desperate need of a result.
It has been some start to the match between Deportivo and Sociedad with both teams exchanging attacks. A point could keep the home side in the league, but they will not want to take that risk. A point for Sociedad, however, would not be enough for them to finish fourth. Still no goals in La Liga with six minutes on the clock. Who will strike first on this final evening in Spain?
Just a reminder that ninth position should be enough to secure a place in Europe next season with Malaga banned as things stand. Sevilla, who are still 0-0 with Valencia, currently occupy that berth. Not too much to report from the games involving Granada, Levante and Vallecano with nine minutes on the clock.
UPDATE:
Celta 0-0 Espanyol
Granada 0-0 Getafe
Deportivo 0-0 Sociedad
Levante 0-0 Betis
Mallorca 0-0 Valladolid
Sevilla 0-0 Valencia
Vallecano 0-0 Bilbao
Zaragoza 0-0 Atletico
No goals in any of the league fixtures thus far this evening, but there has been a red card in the match between Bilbao and Vallecano with Aritz Aduriz handed his marching orders after just 10 minutes on the clock. However, that is not one of the fixtures that will play a part at either end of the table.
GOAL! Sevilla 0-1 Valencia (Banega 12 minutes) Valencia have taken the lead against Sevilla with Ever Banega on the scoresheet from outside the box. Three points for Valencia would secure fourth spot in the table regardless of Sociedad's result. We finally have the opening goal of the evening.
Half-chance for Bruno Gama in the match between Deportivo and Sociedad with the Portuguese driving into the box, but he can only fire his effort high and wide of the target. Three points for the home side against Sociedad would secure their spot in La Liga. Still just the one goal in Spain with Banega handing Valencia the lead after 12 minutes.
GOAL! Celta 1-0 Espanyol (Insa 16 minutes) Celta take the lead against Espanyol courtesy of a fine finish from Insa after 16 minutes. As it stands, they would move out of the bottom three, with Deportivo dropping into trouble.
GOAL! Mallorca 1-0 Valladolid (Alfaro 17 minutes) Mallorca take the lead after 17 minutes courtesy of a finish from Alfaro from inside the box. They remain in the relegation zone, but they have moved off the bottom of the table, with Zaragoza now propping up the league.
GOAL! Vallecano 1-0 Bilbao (Vasquez 22 minutes) Vallecano have taken the lead against 10-man Bilbao with Vasquez striking into the bottom corner. That match has no effect on either end of the table, but it would secure eighth place for Rayo. Suddenly it is all happening in La Liga.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-1 Sociedad (Griezmann 22 minutes) Sociedad take the lead against Deportivo with Griezmann tapping home from close range. Slightly lucky finish from the Frenchman as he finds the inside of the post. However, that would not be enough to secure fourth with Valencia still winning against Sevilla.
UPDATE:
Celta 1-0 Espanyol
Granada 0-0 Getafe
Deportivo 0-1 Sociedad
Levante 0-0 Betis
Mallorca 1-0 Valladolid
Sevilla 0-1 Valencia
Vallecano 1-0 Bilbao
Zaragoza 0-0 Atletico
As it stands Valencia would finish in fourth position on 68 points, while Sociedad would sit fifth on 64 points. Down at the bottom, Zaragoza would sit bottom of the table, while Deportivo and Mallorca would also be relegated with Celta Vigo surviving. Little over 26 minutes on the clock in each match in Spain.
Still no goals in the games between Granada and Getafe, Levante and Betis, or Zaragoza and Atletico, but there have been goals in each of the other five fixtures. Valencia remain 1-0 ahead in Sevilla, but the home side have been on the front foot for the past five minutes or so. Meanwhile, Sociedad remain in charge against Deportivo, who as it stands are being relegated.
GOAL! Granada 1-0 Getafe (Nolito 29 minutes) Granada have the lead against Getafe as Nolito is on hand to finish from close range. That result would move the home side into 15th place in the table.
GOAL! Mallorca 1-1 Valladolid (Bueno 30 minutes) Valladolid level with 30 minutes on the clock as Bueno heads home from inside the box. Meanwhile, Sociedad have the ball in the back of the net against Deportivo, but it is ruled offside.
GOAL! Vallecano 1-1 Bilbao (Susaeta 31 minutes) Bilbao level against Vallecano as Susaeta combines with Ibai Gomez before curling an effort into the bottom corner. As it stands, the away side would remain in 14th position.
That equaliser for Valladolid means that Mallorca have dropped to the bottom of the table. They will be relegated with Deportivo and Zaragoza as things stand with Celta Vigo leading against Espanyol. Little over 10 minutes remaining in the first period of each La Liga tie. Hardly time to take a breath here!
UPDATE:
Celta 1-0 Espanyol
Granada 1-0 Getafe
Deportivo 0-1 Sociedad
Levante 0-0 Betis
Mallorca 1-1 Valladolid
Sevilla 0-1 Valencia
Vallecano 1-1 Bilbao
Zaragoza 0-0 Atletico
Just the two La Liga matches yet to produce a goal with Levante and Betis goalless, along with Zaragoza and Atletico. Should ninth position be enough to secure a place in the Europa League, then Sevilla would join Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano and one from Real Sociedad and Valencia in the competition next season. Highly-charged affair between Depor and Sociedad with both sides in desperate need of the points.
Incredible chance for Vela to put Sociedad 2-0 ahead against Deportivo as Griezmann finds Vela in the box, but the Mexican can only fire his effort high and wide of the crossbar. Three points would be enough for Sociedad to secure fourth if Valencia fail to beat Sevilla. We are in the latter stages of each La Liga affair.
GOAL! Sevilla 1-1 Valencia (Negredo 40 minutes) Sevilla level against Valencia! As it stands, Sociedad would finish in the top four. Stunning finish from Negredo, who thumped an effort into the bottom corner from outside the box. Another twist in the race for the top four.
GOAL! Mallorca 2-1 Valladolid (Marti 43 minutes) Mallorca regain the lead against Valladolid as Marti converts from close range. However, they remain in the relegation zone.
GOAL! Sevilla 2-1 Valencia (Negredo pen 44 min) Sevilla take the lead against Valencia as Negredo converts from the penalty spot. It gets better for Sociedad. As it stands, they would finish fourth in the table. It gets worse for Valencia moments later as Jonas is handed his marching orders.
HALF-TIME:
Celta 1-0 Espanyol
Granada 1-0 Getafe
Deportivo 0-1 Sociedad
Levante 0-0 Betis
Mallorca 2-1 Valladolid
Sevilla 2-1 Valencia
Vallecano 1-1 Bilbao
Zaragoza 0-0 Atletico
So there we have it. Enthralling first half in La Liga with goals aplenty. Sociedad, who lead Deportivo 1-0, currently sit in fourth position, with Valencia trailing Sevilla 2-1. Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table Celta would survive with their 1-0 lead over Espanyol moving them onto 37 points.
As it stands:
Champions League: Real Sociedad
Europa League: Valencia, Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla
Relegated: Real Mallorca, Deportivo, Real Zaragoza
There have also been two red cards in the opening 45 minutes of football. One for Aduriz in Bilbao's clash with Vallecano, but more importantly Jonas has received his marching orders for Valencia in their clash with Sevilla. Just a reminder that a point for Valencia would not be good enough if Sociedad beat Deportivo.
It promises to be an enthralling end to the season with 45 minutes of action still to come in the eight remaining La Liga fixtures. Just a reminder that Barcelona and Real Madrid have already been in action this afternoon with the former beating Malaga 4-1, while Madrid were 4-2 winners over Osasuna.
Here we go then. All eight fixtures are now underway in the second period. Who will strike first in the second period? Not too much to report from the only two games which are goalless - Levante against Betis and Zaragoza against Atletico.
You just get the feeling that someone is going to be stung in the final minutes of this season. The league title may have been decided, but what a final evening at both ends of the table. Just a reminder that ninth position should be enough to secure a spot in the Europa League with Malaga, as it stands, banned from competing in Europe next season due to a financial ban.
GOAL! Vallecano 1-2 Bilbao (Aurtenetxe 48 minutes) Bilbao take the lead in the second period with Aurtenetxe on hand to score from close range. That result would move them into 12th position in the table. Meanwhile, Juan Carlos Valeron was just fired wide for Deportivo against Sociedad.
UPDATE:
Celta 1-0 Espanyol
Granada 1-0 Getafe
Deportivo 0-1 Sociedad
Levante 0-0 Betis
Mallorca 2-1 Valladolid
Sevilla 2-1 Valencia
Vallecano 1-2 Bilbao
Zaragoza 0-0 Atletico
GOAL! Levante 1-0 Betis (Rios 51 minutes) Levante take the lead against Betis with Rios on hand to head into an empty net from close range. However, that result has no effect on either the bottom or the race for the Champions League. Sociedad still lead Deportivo, while 10-man Valencia trail 2-1 to Sevilla, with Negredo scoring both for the home side.
You just get the feeling that Deportivo have to improve if they are to turn it around against Sociedad. As it stands, they are bottom of the table. They need two goals to remain in the division. Vela comes close to a second for the away side, but he curls his effort high and wide of the crossbar.
GOAL! Vallecano 2-2 Bilbao (Piti 55 minutes) Some match developing in Madrid with Vallecano levelling against 10-man Bilbao. That result would keep Rayo in eighth position in the table, which would be a very respectable finish. Not too much to report in the early stages of the second half. The situation remains the same at bot ends of the table.
GOAL! Sevilla 2-2 Valencia (Soldado 56 minutes) Soldado - who else - levels for Valencia in their clash with Sevilla. As it stands they would still finish fifth, however, with Sociedad beating Deportivo. Another goal for Valencia would secure their spot in the Champions League regardless of Sociedad's result.
GOAL! Sevilla 3-2 Valencia (Negredo 57 minutes) Oh my good grief. Negredo scores his third of the night moments later with Valencia now trailing.
GOAL! Mallorca 3-1 Valladolid (Dos Santos 58 minutes) Mallorca have their third of the evening as Dos Santos fires a wonderful effort into the bottom corner. However, they remain in the relegation zone with Celta leading Espanyol. It is all happening this evening.
As it stands:
Champions League: Real Sociedad
Europa League: Valencia, Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla
Relegated: Real Mallorca, Deportivo, Real Zaragoza
GOAL! Sevilla 4-2 Valencia (Negredo 61 minutes) Sevilla and indeed Negredo have their fourth of the evening to put Valencia's Champions League dreams in tatters. Sociedad, providing they hold onto the three points here, are almost certain to be playing Champions League football next season.
GOAL! Granada 2-0 Getafe (El Arabi 63 minutes) Granada have their second of the evening as El Arabi converts from close range. That would move Granada into 15th position in the table. Little under 30 minutes remaining in tonight's fixtures. It has been full of twists and turns thus far.
What a season it had been for Negredo by the way with the Sevilla forward now on 25 league goals for the season. He has been just sensational. Right, Sociedad continue to lead Deportivo, which as it stands, is enough to secure fourth in the table. Valencia, who have 10 men, continue to trail Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon.
GOAL! Levante 1-1 Betis (Molina 67 minutes) Betis have levelled against Levante courtesy of a fine finish from Jorge Molina. It has certainly been coming. Some more big news to come at the bottom of the table.
GOAL! Mallorca 4-1 Valladolid (Marquez 68 minutes) Mallorca have their fourth of the evening as Marquez thumps a wonderful effort into the back of the net. However, they remain in the bottom three with Celta still leading against Espanyol. Oh my word what a finish we could be in for here.
As it stands:
Champions League: Real Sociedad
Europa League: Valencia, Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla
Relegated: Real Mallorca, Deportivo, Real Zaragoza
GOAL! Mallorca 4-2 Valladolid (Omar 72 minutes) Valladolid score their second against Mallorca courtesy of a smart finish from Omar. Six-goal thriller in that match. Good grief we have seen some goals this evening.
UPDATE:
Celta 1-0 Espanyol
Granada 2-0 Getafe
Deportivo 0-1 Sociedad
Levante 1-1 Betis
Mallorca 4-2 Valladolid
Sevilla 4-2 Valencia
Vallecano 2-2 Bilbao
Zaragoza 0-0 Atletico
Incredible chance for Deportivo as Salomao as the striker has a free header at the back post, but he can only fire over the crossbar. Sociedad remain fourth, while Deportivo stay in the bottom three. One goal in the Celta vs. Espanyol match changes things dramatically. Zaragoza can also survive if they score against Atletico Madrid. It could go so many ways.
Oh my good grief Deportivo continue to test Sociedad with two chances in quick succession, but the first is dramatically cleared before Riki heads against the crossbar. Just a reminder that Deportivo need three points to secure safety. A point would also be enough if Celta do not beat Espanyol. Little over 10 minutes remaining in all eight La Liga fixtures.
As it stands:
Champions League: Real Sociedad
Europa League: Valencia, Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla
Relegated: Real Mallorca, Deportivo, Real Zaragoza
You just get the feeling that we are going to have late drama this evening. If Espanyol equalise against Celta, then Real Mallorca would be safe. However, Zaragoza would also survive if they can beat Atletico. Just about 82 minutes on the clock. Can Deportivo turn it around and stop Sociedad making the top four?
No goals in La Liga since the 72nd minute when Omar scored for Valladolid against Mallorca. Celta are within touching distance of another season in the top flight, while Sociedad remain fourth. Zaragoza still cannot break down the best defence in the league, however, with Atletico standing form. Little over five minutes of action remaining in Spain's top division.
GOAL! Zaragoza 0-1 Atletico (Turan 84 minutes) Atletico have the lead against Zaragoza courtesy of a strike from Turan with five minutes remaining. Meanwhile, Sociedad are reduced to 10 men as Bergara is handed his marching orders for a foul on Riki. It is foolish from the midfielder. Can Deportivo make use of the man advantage?
As it stands:
Champions League: Real Sociedad
Europa League: Valencia, Real Betis, Rayo Vallecano, Sevilla
Relegated: Real Mallorca, Deportivo, Real Zaragoza
Little over two minutes remaining on the final evening in La Liga. Real Sociedad are heading for the Champions League, while Celta Vigo are surviving courtesy of a 1-0 score against Espanyol. Will we have late drama? One goal for Espanyol and Mallorca would survive against the odds.
GOAL! Sevilla 4-3 Valencia (Soldado 90 minutes) Valencia made it 4-3 in the final moments as Soldado scores his second of the evening. However, they need Deportivo to score to stop Sociedad from making the top four.
GOALS! Zaragoza 1-3 Atletico Incredible end to the match as Zaragoza level through Postiga, before a double from Diego Costa moves Atletico into a 3-1 lead. That has effectively relegated Zaragoza from the division.
CELTA VIGO ARE SAFE! RELEGATED: MALLORCA, ZARAGOZA, DEPORTIVO
REAL SOCIEDAD SECURE THEIR SPOT IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
FULL-TIME:
Celta 1-0 Espanyol
Granada 2-0 Getafe
Deportivo 0-1 Sociedad (Sociedad quality for CL, Deportivo relegated)
Levante 1-1 Betis
Mallorca 4-2 Valladolid (Mallorca relegated)
Sevilla 4-3 Valencia
Vallecano 2-2 Bilbao
Zaragoza 1-3 Atletico (Zaragoza are relegated)
So there we have it. A remarkable conclusion to the La Liga season sees Real Sociedad secure a spot in the Champions League, with Valencia just missing out. Celta survived relegation, meanwhile, with Mallorca, Zaragoza and Deportivo dropping into the second tier.
Wow, just wow. It has been a stunning La Liga season with Barcelona finishing with 100 points, while they set the record for goals with 115 strikes in the league. It proved to be a disappointing campaign for Real Madrid, however, with Jose Mourinho's side finishing 15 points behind their rivals. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Good evening!
