Villalcarreal defeated newly crowned La Liga champions Barcelona 3-2 on Sunday to earn a comfortable 3-2 victory that will help them advance to next season’s Champions League.
Leganes improved to 2-0 victory over Las Palmas while Kylian Mbappe scored for Real Madrid in another area as Leganes boosted their survival chances.
On Friday, Barcelona stars celebrated their 28th league title on an open-top bus, but Hansi Flick cautioned against “those who party, can work” and chose a strong side.
However, after Nicolas Pepe set him up, the visitors were able to defeat in-form striker Ayoze Perez, who slotted past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Lamine Yamal added a stunning goal to level the scoring as Barca won the league on Thursday at Espanyol.
The 17-year-old arrowed a shot into the far bottom corner after passing two defenders.
Before Fermin Lopez surged in, Yamal hit the bar, soaring home from the box.
In the 80th minute, Santi Comesana lofted over Ter Stegen to give the visitors an equalizer before Tajon Buchanan had already snuck in to equalize.
Barca lost their first game at home since 2025 and also lost to their first league opponent this year, but champions chants rang around the stadium on what might be their final appearance before a trip to Camp Nou, which had been completely renovated.
To cap a fantastic first season under Flick, the domestic treble winners received the league trophy at the end of the game.
The team has a lot of potential, according to a proud Flick, who believes they can improve a little bit. They adapted to the idea of how we want to play and showed they can play football.
Everything is possible when you have confidence, according to the saying.
Villarreal’s 4-1 defeat at Atletico Madrid sealed their return to Europe’s top competition, closing a big gap on Real Betis, who are sixth.
As Diego Simeone’s third team, third, came out comfortable winners, Julian Alvarez added two and added one more.
De Bruyne won’t play for Man City in the World Cup, according to De Bruyne.
‘Defend this shirt,’
In Carlo Ancelotti’s penultimate game at the helm, Real Madrid defeated nine-man Sevilla to earn their 29th league goal of the year.
The hosts were halted by Loic Bade’s red card in the 12th minute for a professional foul on Mbappe, and Isaac Romero was sent off for a high tackle on Aurelien Tchouameni at the start of the second half.
In the end, Mbappe, the division’s top scorer, fired home Madrid’s opener from close range, and Jude Bellingham, who had just scored, grabbed a second late in the match.
“We were playing for nothing today, but we have to defend this shirt,” said Madrid’s Fede Valverde, “because at this club you always play for everything.”
After claiming a Champions League and La Liga double in the previous campaign, Madrid will compete in the American Club World Cup this summer.
Valverde continued, “We’re excited and looking forward to it, proud to represent Madrid.”
By the time Madrid are in the US, Xabi Alonso, a Bayer Leverkusen player, might have found a new coach.
The veteran Luka Modric made a strong impression for Madrid, but his future is uncertain beyond the end of the season.
Everyone is aware of Modric’s love for him, and Madrid will have a chance to decide accordingly, said Ancelotti.
“For the club, for him, and for the future,” he said.
Leganes defeated Las Palmas 1-0 to extend their season-long fight for survival.
The 18th-placed Madrid minnows face relegated Real Valladolid in their final game, two points clear of safety.
Espanyol are in danger of dropping after losing to Osasuna 2-0, and the 17th-ranked Catalan side will face Las Palmas on Saturday knowing a victory would keep them in contention.
With victories over Valladolid and Mallorca, respectively, Getafe and Alaves secured safety.
