Late goal gives Sevilla Champions League final spot in Spain

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MADRID – Sevilla needed a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Atlético Madrid to clinch the final Champions League spot in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Barcelona secured second place and a berth in the lucrative Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, after a 0-0 draw at Getafe, which escaped relegation.

An 85th-minute header from Youssef En-Nesyri secured the point that gave Sevilla a place in Europe’s top club competition for a third straight season. Third-placed Atlético opened the scoring with José María Giménez in the first half.

A defeat would have left Sevilla in a tense situation ahead of the final round next weekend as rivals Real Betis beat Granada 2-0 to get closer. Betis.

“Mission accomplished,” said Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui. “What a great season! The team deserved this award.

Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis had already secured a Europa League place by winning the Copa del Rey, and they will be joined in the second-tier competition 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 Europa Conference League third tier. Villareal visits Barcelona, ​​while Bilbao is in Seville.

Real Madrid, who had already clinched the title and are focusing on the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28, drew 1-1 at Cadiz.

Alavés became the second team relegated after a 3-1 defeat at Levante, who had been demoted in the previous round.

Granada, Mallorca and Cadiz will fight to avoid relegation in the final round.

Unai Emery’s Villarreal had a chance to stay alive in the fight for a Europa League spot but it saw Sociedad rally to second-half victory to secure the final spot in the Europa League competition. second level.

Villarreal, who qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League this season, now risk missing out on the final Europa League berth after Bilbao moved to within a point of seventh place. Bilbao hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against Villarreal.

Mallorca climbed out of the relegation zone with a stoppage time goal from Abdón Prats in a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano.

“It was amazing,” Prats said. “Let’s hope this goal can keep the team in the Premier League.”

The win left Mallorca just outside the relegation zone, level on points with Cadiz but ahead of the head-to-head tiebreaker. A mid-table victory for Osasuna next weekend will ensure the club owned by American businessman Robert Sarver stays in the top flight. Cadiz will play in the last place of Alavés.

Granada, one point ahead of Mallorca, will host Espanyol in the final round.

Striker Luis Suárez became emotional when he received a huge ovation from Atlético Madrid fans after being substituted in the second half of what was likely his last game for the club.

“Thank you for making us champions,” said a banner at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium.

Suárez played a key role in the team’s title race last season after joining from Barcelona, ​​but gradually lost his starting spot and only played a few minutes on the bench recently.

Atlético are five points behind Barcelona, ​​who got the result they needed against Getafe to secure their place in the Spanish Super Cup.

Focused on Liverpool, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti again rested some of his starters – including striker Karim Benzema, striker Vinícius Júnior, midfielder Luka Modric and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – in the draw at Cadiz, threatened with relegation.

Cadiz missed a chance to come away with the win when striker Álvaro Negredo had his 61st-minute penalty saved by Madrid’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin. Victory at home would have put Cadiz two points clear of the relegation zone.

Cadiz have won one of their last five matches after a shock 1-0 win over Barcelona at the Camp Nou stadium.

Madrid enter the final round with 85 points, 12 more than Barcelona.

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