🇪🇸 Kroos denied LaLiga fairy tale farewell; two player awards settled | OneFootball

LaLiga’s final weekend continued with five matches wrapping things up on Saturday.

Here’s what went down.

Madrid held in Kroos’ final home outing

Toni Kroos’ final Liga outing for Real Madrid ended in a stalemate with Real Betis.

Both teams formed a guard of honour for the midfielder, who is set to retire this summer after Euro 2024, before kick-off at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Johnny Cardoso appeared to have handed the visitors a shock first-half lead after Thibaut Courtois fumbled the ball under pressure from Marc Roca.

But the strike was disallowed after Roca was adjudged to be in an offside position while also interfering with play in challenging Los Blancos’ goalkeeper.

Betis found the net again as Willian José’s deflection on an Ayoze Pérez shot took it past Courtois’ replacement Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was spared by the offside flag.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side grew into the game with Kroos at the heart of several moves, including a free kick that Fran Vieites had to palm away, before his 86th-minute withdrawal.

The Verdiblancos ended their campaign with a Europa Conference League place, having held off the challenge from eighth-placed Villarreal.

Madrid, meanwhile, will aim to provide Kroos with a more fitting send-off when they take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on 1 June.

Pichichi settled after Sørloth injury

Scorers: Budimir 30′; Morales 57′, 90+2′

Alexander Sørloth’s bid to be crowned LaLiga’s top scorer ended in heartbreak as Villarreal salvaged a point at Osasuna.

The Norwegian limped out early into his side’s final game at Estadio El Sadar, denying him the chance to overhaul Girona’s Artem Dovbyk.

Ante Budimir fired the hosts ahead on the half-hour mark but Sørloth’s replacement José Luis Morales drew the Yellow Submarine level.

Morales appeared to have snatched the spoils deep into second-half added time before the strike was chalked off by VAR for offside.

Osasuna leapfrogged Alavés, who face Las Palmas on Sunday, into 10th while their visitors confirmed an eighth-place finish.

Simón seals Zamorra Trophy

Scorers: N Williams 67′

Unai Simón clinched the Zamorra Trophy as he helped Athletic Club to victory at Rayo Vallecano.

The stopper was substituted on 62 minutes at Vallecas after recording his 18th clean sheet of the season and only 33 goals conceded.

Nico Williams broke the deadlock just five minutes later by sliding in Álex Berenguer’s cutback to seal maximum points for the Lehoiak.

Copa del Rey holders Athletic were already assured of a fifth-place finish while Rayo missed the chance to overtake Las Palmas in 15th.

Atlético return to winning ways

Scorers: Lino 14′, Reinildo 90+4′

Sent off: Ñíguez

Atlético de Madrid rounded off their LaLiga campaign by returning to winning ways against Real Sociedad.

Samuel Lino opened the scoring early in the first half, drilling the ball home at the far post from Marcos Llorente’s cross.

But the visitors ended on a bittersweet note as Saúl Ñíguez was sent off deep into added time for a second bookable offence.

Just minutes later, Reinildo Mandava capped off the game, firing in from close-range after being teed up by Álvaro Morata.

Victory at the Reale Arena saw Diego Simeone’s side rack up their fifth win from the final six domestic outings.

Other results

Everything will be done and dusted after Sunday’s finale of four games, which includes Xavi’s Barcelona farewell outing at Sevilla.