Pucela pain, Ben-se-va, EurOsasuna and Barça's new home
Ben Hayward is back and discusses four talking points at the end of LaLiga 2022/23.
Valladolid lose out in six-way relegation fight
Six clubs went into the final day of LaLiga fighting for survival. With Elche and Espanyol already relegated, five of those teams would be safe and all depended on themselves to secure survival.
Cádiz, Getafe and Valencia all started the day with 41 points, with Almería and Celta Vigo on 40 and Real Valladolid on 39. Cádiz were away to Elche, with Valencia visiting Real Betis and Almería at Espanyol, while Celta were at home to champions Barcelona and Valladolid hosted Getafe in the only direct meeting between the teams involved in the battle to stay up .
Celta had looked the most vulnerable of the bunch after losing seven of their last nine games. Carlos Carvalhal’s side survived an early scare at Balaídos as Franck Kessié’s strike after 10 minutes was ruled out for a marginal offside. And young midfielder Gabri Veiga, who is wanted by a number of clubs across Europe and may have been playing his last game for Celta, turned out to be the hero with a goal in each half. His second was intended to be a cross, but it barely mattered. Nor did Ansu Fati’s late goal for Barça in the end. Celta were safe. They had done it again.
None of the other teams won, but a point at Elche was enough for Cádiz, while Valencia’s draw at Real Betis also sealed survival in a desperate season for the Mestalla oufit. Despite the outcome, big changes are needed at that club.
So it all came down to the other two matches, with Getafe happy to play for draw away to a Valladolid side needing to score and Almería on the ropes away to Espanyol. Almería twice trailed and a defeat would have sent them to Segunda, but Adri Embarba equalised both times – on the second occasion with a penalty in the 87th minute – to clinch the all-important point in a 3-3 draw which kept them up and sent down Valladolid instead as the latter failed to score at home to Getafe. Valladolid are relegated despite finishing the season with 40 points and you have to feel for them. But they bounced back straight away last time and should be back soon.
Karim Benzema says goodbye
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday that Real Madrid’s squad will be very different next season and on Sunday, Los Blancos announced the exit of striker Karim Benzema after 14 successful seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Benzema joined Madrid from Lyon in the summer of 2009 as part of a huge spending spree which saw Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká and Xabi Alonso all arrive following the return of Florentino Pérez to the presidency.
The 35-year-old, who is set to move to Saudi Arabia, signed off with a goal from the penalty spot to earn Real Madrid a point against Athletic Club at the Bernabéu and second place above Atlético after the Rojiblancos conceded in added time to draw 2-2 at Villarreal.
It was Benzema’s 354th goal for the club, with the French forward second only to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 450 on the list of the club’s all-time top scorers. He also leaves with 25 trophies, including five Champions League crowns, having played his part in one of Madrid’s most successful eras. He has been an absolute joy to watch over the years and will be hard to replace.
Osasuna head into Europe
Osasuna rounded off a memorable season by claiming the last European place. Jagoba Arrasate’s side reached the final of the Copa del Rey last month and are already guaranteed a place in next season’s Supercopa. Now, after beating Girona 2-1 at El Sadar, they are heading to Europe as well.
Ante Budmir scored twice within three second-half minutes, both times following crosses from the right, and European football will be coming to Pamplona next season as Osasuna held on for a 2-1 win and pipped Athletic Club to seventh by two points.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético and Real Sociedad qualified for the Champions League, along with Europa League winners Sevilla. Villarreal and Real Betis will play in the Europa League, with Osasuna in the Europa Conference League.
Barcelona have been dominant, but Montjuïc will be tough
Barcelona wrapped up the title with four rounds of LaLiga to spare and went on to lose three of their final four fixtures. Xavi’s side clearly lost some of their intensity after winning the competition, but finish the season with their first league crown since 2018-19.
The one win in that sequence came last weekend against Mallorca in a 3-0 victory as Barça bade farewell to Camp Nou, with renovations on the stadium to start this summer. Next season, the Blaugrana will play their home games at Montjuic and adapting to the old Olympic Stadium will be key to their hopes of retaining LaLiga.
Espanyol used to play at Montjuïc and it was not popular with their fans. Cold and windy in the winter, the stadium is also less accessible than Camp Nou from the city centre, with limited options for eating and drinking nearby. The ground’s running track also affects the atmosphere and capacity is far lower than Camp Nou. It will be a challenge.