Barca held as Depor escape

24 May 2015 06:31

Barcelona were unable to celebrate their Primera Division title with a win as opponents Deportivo La Coruna secured their survival.

A 2-2 draw kept Depor up at Eibar's expense, while Almeria also joined already-relegated Cordoba in making the drop.

Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo's eighth hat-trick of another prolific season helped Real Madrid finish with a 7-3 win over Getafe - but they still finished two points behind bitter rivals Barca.

The latter clinched the title last week with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid and looked on course for another victory when Lionel Messi's brace put them 2-0 up.

They were presented with their trophy after the game, but not before Lucas Perez and Diogo Salomao drew Depor level and ensured them another season in the top flight.

That meant Eibar's 3-0 win over Cordoba was in vain. Mikel Arruabarrena, Raul Navas and Ander Capa scored the goals, but after Eibar, Depor and Granada - who drew 0-0 with Atletico Madrid - finished level on points, their fate went down to head-to-head record.

In the six games between the three teams, Eibar took only two points to Depor's seven and Granada's six and therefore filled the final relegation spot.

Almeria finished three points adrift of safety after twice letting the lead slip en route to a 3-2 defeat at home to Valencia.

Thomas Partey and Fernando Soriano's goals were cancelled out by Nicolas Otamendi and Sofiane Feghouli before Paco Alcacer's goal 10 minutes from time put the seal on Almeria's relegation - and secured fourth place for Valencia.

Real's game was of little consequence to the table but they signed off with an absolute blockbuster. Ronaldo scored three times before half-time, but excellent finishes from Sergio Escudero, Diego Castro and Mehdi Lacen left the game level at the interval.

Javier Hernandez and James Rodriguez made it 5-3 just seven minutes into the second half and Jese and Marcelo rounded off a hugely entertaining win.

Sevilla missed out on the Champions League places despite beating 10-man Malaga 3-2, but can still qualify if they beat Ukrainian side Dnipro in the Europa League final. Jose Antonio Reyes, Ever Banega and Alex Vidal scored their goals after Weligton was sent off, Malaga's Javi Guerra then pulling two back.

Villarreal finished sixth despite a 4-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, who will play in the Europa League next season.

Aritz Aduriz book-ended the scoring, his first goal a penalty, and Andoni Iraola and Benat Etxeberria were also on target.

Athletic have the Copa del Rey final against Barca to come, with victory carrying a place in Europe. Should league champions Barca make it a double, that place will pass to seventh place in the league - occupied by Athletic.

Hugo Mallo, Gustavo Cabral and Nolito scored as Celta Vigo beat Espanyol 3-2 to move ahead of Malaga into eighth. Sergio Garcia and Christian Stuani scored for Espanyol, who finished 10th.

Real Sociedad won 4-2 at Rayo Vallecano, but still finished one place below their opponents in 12th. Carlos Vela, Gonzalo Castro, Imanol Agirretxe and Gorka Elustondo scored for the Basque side, with Alberto Bueno and Jorge Morcillo replying for Rayo.

Levante and Elche ended their season with a goalless draw.

Source: PA