Real Madrid closed out a disappointing La Liga campaign with a 4-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao, while Mallorca and Girona were relegated from Spain’s top flight following dramatic final-day results on Saturday.
The win marked a fitting send-off for coach Álvaro Arbeloa in his final game in charge, as well as an emotional farewell for veteran defender Dani Carvajal at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid, who finish the season trophyless, delivered an entertaining performance, with goals from Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Brahim Díaz sealing the victory. Athletic Bilbao managed two responses through Gorka Guruzeta and Urko Izeta but were unable to prevent the hosts from ending their season on a positive note.
Carvajal, featuring in his last match for the club, played a key role in the opening stages, setting up Gonzalo García with a precise pass to give Madrid the lead. He later received a standing ovation and a guard of honour from both teams when substituted late in the game.
An emotional Carvajal expressed pride in his career at the club. “I am very proud of being a Madridista,” he said, thanking teammates, fans, and club president Florentino Pérez. The 34-year-old departs with 27 trophies to his name.
Despite the win, the focus elsewhere fell on the relegation battle, where Mallorca and Girona both dropped out of La Liga under heartbreaking circumstances.
Mallorca secured a 3-0 victory over already-relegated Real Oviedo to finish on 42 points, but it proved insufficient to avoid the drop due to head-to-head results. Levante and Osasuna also ended the season on 42 points but survived.
“I’m broken, I want to say sorry to everyone,” said Mallorca midfielder Sergi Darder following confirmation of their relegation.
Girona’s fate was sealed after a 1-1 draw with Elche. Álvaro Rodríguez gave Elche the lead before Arnau Martínez equalised, but the result ensured Elche’s survival while condemning Girona to relegation just one year after their participation in the UEFA Champions League.
Elsewhere, Celta Vigo secured a Europa League spot with a narrow 1-0 win over Sevilla, finishing sixth, while Getafe claimed seventh place and a UEFA Conference League berth after defeating Osasuna by the same scoreline.
In another notable result, La Liga champions Barcelona were beaten 3-1 by Valencia in what marked Robert Lewandowski’s final appearance for the Catalan club. Despite the Polish striker scoring, Valencia responded with goals from Javi Guerra, Luis Rioja, and Guido Rodríguez to secure the win.
The season is set to conclude on Sunday with Villarreal and Atletico Madrid facing off in a decisive clash for third place.
As the curtain falls on the campaign, Real Madrid will look to regroup after a rare trophyless season, while Mallorca and Girona prepare for life in the second division following a dramatic end to the league campaign.
