The Result Carries Weight
MADRID — Robert Lewandowski gave Barcelona an emotional sendoff at Camp Nou on Sunday, signing off with the only fitting result: a 3-1 victory over Real Betis that completed a flawless 19-match home record in La Liga.
The Polish striker, 37, confirmed Saturday that he would leave Barcelona after four seasons. He ends his tenure with 119 goals in 192 appearances, three league titles and one Copa del Rey.
The matchup already has enough history; the job is to keep the reading list shorter than the tension.
"It has been an honor to play for this club," Lewandowski said after the match. "We've enjoyed some great moments in these four years. I am very proud of everything we have achieved together. Today I say goodbye, but I will always carry Barcelona in my heart. Thank you so much, fans. Once a Barça fan, always a Barça fan."
Two goals by Raphinha and one from João Cancelo supplied the goals. After the final whistle, teammates tossed Lewandowski into the air and lined up to applaud him as he walked toward the locker room — a ritual usually reserved for title-clinching victories rather than farewells.
The Moment That Swung It
Barcelona had already wrapped up its second consecutive La Liga title two rounds earlier. There is one round remaining.
Antoine Griezmann also played his final game for Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano, a 1-0 win over Girona, before moving to Major League Soccer in the United States. The 35-year-old French forward is Atletico's all-time leading scorer.
Griezmann apologized again to fans on Sunday. "I didn't realize how much I loved you here. I was very young. I made a mistake, I reconsidered, and we did everything we could to come back and enjoy it again," he said.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone offered simple praise: "Griezmann is possibly the best one to have ever played here. He's an extraordinary guy, a genius."
The Race Tightens
In the relegation picture, Sevilla survived despite a 1-0 home loss to Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior scored for Madrid, who had already secured second place. Kylian Mbappé started for the visitors three days after telling coach Álvaro Arbeloa he had been demoted to fourth-choice striker.
Sevillo avoided the drop thanks to other results going its way. Alaves also guaranteed top-tier soccer next season by beating already-relegated Oviedo 1-0.
Levante moved to 15th place with a 2-0 win over Mallorca, giving the club 42 points — the same total as 16th-place Osasuna and 17th-place Elche. Osasuna lost 2-1 to Espanyol at home, while Elche beat 10-man Getafe 1-0.
Inside the drop zone sit 17th-place Girona with 40 points, second-to-last Mallorca with 39, and last-place Oviedo with 29. Five teams will enter the final round hoping to avoid relegation.