Karim Benzema, a brilliant player who was leaving Real Madrid, bid goodbye to supporters at the Santiago Bernabeu on the day that his team played Athletic Bilbao in La Liga. As he was leaving, Benzema scored a penalty kick that helped his team secure a 1-1 draw.
Elsewhere Real Valladolid was sent down to the second division after their match with Getafe ended in a scoreless tie, while five other teams around the bottom of the table were allowed to exhale a sigh of relief following the nail-biting climax to the season.
Gabri Veiga’s brace ensured that the Galician club would continue in the top division for the upcoming campaign after helping Celta Vigo to a 2-1 victory against reigning champion Barcelona.
Benzema, who Madrid announced earlier in the day would leave the club this summer, leaving after spending the previous 14 years with the organization, rolled his penalty shot down the centre to tie the score before being taken out of the game to enthusiastic acclaim.
After Diego Simeone’s team tied 2-2 against Villarreal on the penultimate day of the season, the draw insured that Real Madrid would finish in second place, one spot higher than their city rivals Atletico Madrid.
“When I spoke with him this morning, he informed me that he would be leaving. Carlo Ancelotti, the head coach of Real Madrid, stated that “he’s taken the decision and I’ve told him that I respect it completely.”
Ancelotti stated that he was taken aback by Benzema’s decision, despite the fact that the Italian stated on Saturday that he anticipated the attacker would remain.
“I have coached one of the best in the world, not a forward, a complete footballer,” the coach stated. “He was one of the best I have ever coached.”
“A really approachable, low-key, and serious individual. We are unable to rejoice at his departure, but we are obligated to accept his choice. The things that he has accomplished while working at this club will live on in lore and infamy.
Thibaut Courtois made a spectacular penalty save to deny Mikel Vesga and keep his team tied with Athletic at halftime. Athletic were the more dominant team in the first half.
Oihan Sancet scored for the away team early in the second half to give them the lead, but Benzema answered back with a goal from the penalty spot after a questionable call resulted in a foul being made on Eder Militao.
After making the transfer from Lyon to Madrid in 2009, the player, now 35 years old, scored the 354th goal of his brilliant career in the Spanish capital.
Benzema, who has won five trophies in the Champions League and four times in La Liga, appears to be on track to play in Saudi Arabia, which is where his former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo has relocated to play professionally.
Vinicius Junior made his first appearance for Real Madrid after the racist abuse he received from supporters of Valencia, which prompted outrage and support for him from people all over the world.
Madrid’s season was a dismal one; they won the Copa del Rey, but they were eliminated from the winners League by Manchester City in the semi-finals and finished 10 points behind their most hated rivals, winners Barcelona. Despite winning the Copa del Rey, Madrid’s season was a failure.
At Balaidos, Veiga scored twice, once with a goal that he slotted in during the first half and once with a goal that came after an attempted cross that went in. Xavi Hernandez’s team was defeated.
The champs were able to get back into the game thanks to Ansu Fati’s goal, but they were unable to score an equalizer.Inadequate performance
In their match against Getafe, Valladolid were demoted since they were unable to find a way to win.
“There’s little explanation, the team tried, we tried to make it difficult for Getafe but we didn’t do it,” said Jordi Masip, the goalkeeper for Valladolid. “We tried to make it hard for Getafe but we didn’t do it.”
I don’t know what more to say other than it’s a terrible loss for everyone on the team, all of the supporters, and the entire city. We had no choice except to make a goal, as there was no other way out.
Their only chance would have been a late win for Espanyol against Almeria, but the Andalusians were able to hang on for a draw, which allowed them to stay in 17th position and escape by a point.
Valencia was another side who started the day in peril, but they were able to salvage a point against Real Betis by scoring 1 goal and conceding 1 goal. Real Betis also paid their goodbyes to their captain Joaquin Sanchez.
The 41-year-old player, who announced his retirement after making his 622nd appearance in the top division, tied the all-time record set by goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta, who had previously held the mark.
An emotional Joaquin told Movistar that “it’s a special day, a beautiful day, when I’m with my people, my family, and the club that gave me everyone,” after kissing the Benito Villamarin field after he was replaced out of the game. “It’s a beautiful day when I’m with the club that gave me everyone,” he said.
“Real Betis is the reason I am the person I am today.”
Osasuna won their match against Girona by a score of 2-1, which allowed them to move up to seventh position and secure their spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League for the next season.
At El Sadar, the runners-up in the Copa del Rey were able to enjoy their successful season with their fans as Ante Budimir netted a pair of goals for his team.