The Curtain Falls on La Liga

The final whistle has blown on a dramatic conclusion to the La Liga season. The dust has settled, the tables are turned, and the destiny of Spain’s top flight is now written in stone. Alongside the previously relegated Real Oviedo, both Mallorca and Girona have been cast down to the Segunda Division, ending their elite campaigns in heartbreak.

The final day was a gauntlet of survival. Girona finished with 41 points after a 1-1 draw against Elche. But the real drama unfolded among the teams on 42 points: Mallorca, Osasuna, and Levante. In Spanish football, head-to-head records decide fate. Despite a 3-0 home win over Oviedo, Mallorca’s poor record against their rivals sealed their doom. Osasuna and Levante survived, breathing a collective sigh of relief across the Basque Country and the Levant coast.

Budimir’s Battle and Getafe’s Triumph

For Croatian striker Ante Budimir, the final match at Getafe was a tense test of endurance. He played the full 90 minutes as Osasuna faced a crucial away fixture. Getafe, powered by a 59th-minute goal from Milla, secured a 1-0 victory. While Osasuna took the loss, it came at no cost to their status. The real heroes of the afternoon were the hosts: Getafe clinched a spot in the UEFA Conference League, sending their fans into raptures and cementing their European dream.

Shocks, Slumps, and Champions

Elsewhere, the script was flipped. Barcelona, already crowned champions, suffered a stinging 3-1 defeat to Valencia. Lewandowski gave the visitors an early lead in the 61st minute, but Guerra, Rioja, and Rodriguez tore through their defense to secure a massive upset. Meanwhile, Real Madrid maintained their Champions League momentum, cruising past Athletic Bilbao 4-2 thanks to goals from Garcia, Bellingham, Mbappé, and Diaza.

The European places are now set. Alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid, Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, and Betis will represent Spain in next season’s Champions League. Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad head to the Europa League, while Getafe takes the Conference League ticket. Croatian midfielder Luka Sučić played every minute for Real Sociedad in their 1-1 draw with Espanyol, while Duje Ćaleta-Car remained on the bench.