Granada were relegated from La Liga after defeat to Real Sociedad in Week 35 as Atletico Madrid scored three in the opening 18 minutes at Las Palmas.
Villarreal 3-1 Sporting Gijon
Villarreal took another big step towards Europa League football next season as they left Sporting Gijon on the brink with a 3-1 victory on Friday.
Sporting could’ve taken a 2-0 lead, but Moi Gomez’s curler hit the crossbar and Xavi Torres’ header was pushed off the line by goalkeeper Andres Fernandez.
Roberto Soldado subsequently punished the Asturians with a cheeky finish from a ball over the top, before Cedric Bakambu slotted past Ivan Cuellar after he sprung the visitors’ offside trap.
Bakambu has enjoyed a late resurgence this season, with six goals in his last five games, but he was too unselfish when opting to tee up Soldado, who missed from a couple of yards out.
Nonetheless, the former Bursaspor attacker made amends with a crisp finish from low cross.
Barcelona loanee Douglas fired a late consolation across Fernandez, but it was not enough to cut Sporting’s six-point deficit on 17th-placed Leganes.
Real Sociedad 2-1 Granada
Tony Adams’ Granada became the second club to be relegated from La Liga after they were undone by two finely-taken Real Sociedad goals on Saturday.
A ball over the top found Mikel Oyarzabal down the right, and the winger’s cutback was netted from point-blank range by Carlos Vela.
Adrian Ramos gave Granada hope with a headed equaliser, but Juanmi broke Andalusians hearts by following up his shot that hit the woodwork with a half-volleyed finish from another brilliant Oyarzabal assist.
With that, Granada’s six-year spell in the top flight was ended.
Las Palmas 0-5 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid returned to third in La Liga with a 5-0 demolition of Las Palmas that included three goals in the first 18 minutes.
Kevin Gameiro netted his first goals in almost two months as he slid home a cross, before Saul Niguez turned in a corner with his head.
Gameiro slid in again for 3-0, although the post denied the Frenchman from a hat-trick.
Las Palmas seemed guilty of leaving for the island’s sunny beaches too soon, although Alen Halilovic did force Jan Oblak into tipping his swirling strike around the post.
Nonetheless, Thomas Partey finished off a swift one-two and Fernando Torres completed rout in the 90th minute from a left-wing cross.
However, Atleti lost another defender to injury as Josema Gimenez took a whack to the back of his head from Kevin-Prince Boateng, who saw a second yellow card as a result.
