MADRID, Spain, May 18 – Valencia held their nerve to secure La Liga’s last Champions League place on Saturday as a 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid ended the hopes of Getafe and Sevilla of snatching fourth.

Getafe had to better Valencia’s result at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla as they faced Villarreal, while Sevilla needed to beat Athletic Bilbao and hope both Getafe and Valencia lost.

Sevilla did their part by seeing off Bilbao 2-0 while Getafe drew 2-2 but Valencia ensured those results did not matter and reached the Champions League for a second consecutive year.

“It has been an outstanding season,” said Valencia coach Marcelino. “We have had a lot of problems but we stayed calm. To get back into the Champions League again is a great achievement.”

Valencia sit seven points behind Real Madrid, who play Real Betis at home on Sunday, and are 15 adrift of second-placed Atletico, who drew 2-2 away at Levante, with Antoine Griezmann jeered in his final match for the club.

At the bottom, Girona joined Rayo Vallecano and Huesca in being relegated after they were beaten 2-1 away at Alaves.

Valencia’s Champions League chances looked slim when a miserable start to the season left them 15th after 15 games, with a scrap for survival more likely than a dash for the top four.

They did reach the Europa League semifinals but defeat to Arsenal two weeks ago closed that route to the Champions League.

Their season could have a final flourish if they beat a drained Barcelona and win the Copa del Rey on May 25.

“It’s one goal achieved after a difficult season,” said captain Dani Parejo. “But there is still one more to do.”

After 11 weeks in the top four, fifth place and the Europa League might come as a disappointment for Getafe, even for a team promoted to the top flight only two seasons ago and whose annual wage bill is less than one tenth of Real Madrid’s.

“We don’t feel sorry for ourselves, not at all,” said Getafe coach Jose Bordalas. “At the start of the season, we would definitely have signed for this.”

Sevilla qualify for the Europa League too, finishing sixth after Ben Yedder and Munir El Haddadi extinguished Bilbao’s own hopes of European football next season.

Instead, Sevilla are joined by Espanyol, whose fans invaded the pitch when the full-time whistle blew at Cornella, where a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad means the Catalan side clinched seventh.

– Griezmann bitter farewell –

Getafe sat fourth for 23 minutes on Saturday, after Francisco Portillo pulled an early shot into the corner, but news soon filtered through that Valencia had scored against Valladolid, Carlos Soler capitalising on a mistake by Kiko Olivas.

From there, everything went Valencia’s way as Rodrigo gave them a two-goal cushion, shortly after Villarreal’s Vicente Iborra had nodded in an equaliser against Getafe.

A brilliant header from Nemanja Maksimovic looked to have given Getafe a winning finish but Gerard Moreno’s angled shot bobbled its way in after some clumsy handling by David Soria.

Earlier, Griezmann was barracked by fans during his last game for Atletico and Rodrigo might have scored his final goal for the club as they came back from two goals down to draw with Levante.

Griezmann was whistled at the City of Valencia Stadium by visiting fans, who were also heard chanting “out, out, out” before goals from Sergio Camello and Rodrigo ensured Atletico ended the season with a point.

“We had to highlight the work of the gladiators who are leaving,” coach Diego Simeone said afterwards.

“Their greatest legacy is not the titles won, it is their commitment and respect. I love them very much.”

Simeone has dismissed fears of a mass exodus, despite both Diego Godin and Griezmann already announcing their departures, with the likes of Rodrigo, Juanfran and Filipe Luis all expected to follow.

If this was to be their farewell outing for Atletico, it was an underwhelming finale as impressive Levante could have been out of sight before they were eventually pegged back.

Simeone’s side finish runners up with 76 points. They come in above Real Madrid for a second consecutive year but will end up 13 points behind Barcelona, if the Catalans win away at Eibar on Sunday.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Mount Kenya United relegated from KPL

rn rn Footballrn rn rn Saturday, 18th May 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Green triple-double fuels Warriors’ comeback winrn

rn rn Basketballrn rn rn rn 4 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Wilder retains WBC title with brutal first round KOrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Pep relentless as City’s financial muscle pounds rivalsrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Djokovic to meet Nadal for 54th time with Rome title at stakern

rn rn Gamern rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Qatar officials say 48-team World Cup will not be ‘imposed’rn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Lyon cruise to sixth Women’s Champions League titlern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 3 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Isuza in as Migne names AFCON squadrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Why I left Jesse Were, Cheche out u2013 Mignern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn EPL set to splash the cash as transfer window opensrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Athleticsrn rn rn rn rn Nyairera fears new IAAF rules will end careerrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Rugbyrn rn rn rn rn Four changes for Shujaa in London, Paris 7srn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Chapa Dimba All-Stars pick first win in Spainrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Will AFC give Gor guard of honor at Kasarani?rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn CHAN team to face Uganda/Djibouti in friendlyrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Arsenal say Baku 'unacceptable' as Europa League final hostrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Green triple-double fuels Warriors’ comeback win

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Wilder retains WBC title with brutal first round KO

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Pep relentless as City’s financial muscle pounds rivals

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Djokovic to meet Nadal for 54th time with Rome title at stake

rn rn rn Gamern rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Qatar officials say 48-team World Cup will not be ‘imposed’

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

Will Barcelona win the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Lyon cruise to sixth Women’s Champions League title

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nadal downs Tsitsipas to reach 50th Masters final, Konta faces Pliskova for Rome title

rn rn rn Gamern rn Saturday, 18th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Griezmann jeered on last Atleti appearance

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Bucks rout Raptors to take 2-0 NBA Eastern Conference lead

rn rn rn Basketballrn rn Saturday, 18th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Koepka sets 36-hole major record as Tiger misses PGA cut

rn rn rn Golfrn rn Saturday, 18th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Green triple-double fuels Warriors’ comeback winrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Wilder retains WBC title with brutal first round KOrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Pep relentless as City’s financial muscle pounds rivalsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Djokovic to meet Nadal for 54th time with Rome title at stakern rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Qatar officials say 48-team World Cup will not be ‘imposed’rn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tIsuza in as Migne names AFCON squadrn

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWhy I left Jesse Were, Cheche out u2013 Mignern

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEPL set to splash the cash as transfer window opensrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 16th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tNyairera fears new IAAF rules will end careerrn

rn Athleticsrn rn Thursday, 16th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tFour changes for Shujaa in London, Paris 7srn

rn Rugbyrn rn Thursday, 16th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tChapa Dimba All-Stars pick first win in Spainrn

rn Footballrn rn Tuesday, 14th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWill AFC give Gor guard of honor at Kasarani?rn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 13th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tCHAN team to face Uganda/Djibouti in friendlyrn

rn Footballrn rn Wednesday, 15th May 2019rn rn rn t

rn tArsenal say Baku 'unacceptable' as Europa League final hostrn

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 16th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Green triple-double fuels Warriors’ comeback winrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Wilder retains WBC title with brutal first round KOrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Pep relentless as City’s financial muscle pounds rivalsrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Djokovic to meet Nadal for 54th time with Rome title at stakern rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Qatar officials say 48-team World Cup will not be ‘imposed’rn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 19th May 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */