As final days go in La Liga, this was one outcome I was not expecting.
We knew we were all set for a raucous final day battle to survive and, with just a single point separating three clubs vying for safety, it was always likely to be close.
What I did not expect, however, was that the team that started the day top of that pile would slip into the drop zone – especially just after a fortnight after hitting one of their rivals for six.
Yet it is Granada who have slipped out of the Spanish top-flight.
Football Espana’s pre-match description was executed word-perfectly: ‘Arguably no other situation in football can cause a stomach to take on the incredible depths that are inspired by relegation. The prospect of losing a place in the division, especially if it happens suddenly, digs a pit within a fan.’
The cocktail of three simultaneous matches provided a drama which, in equal measures, proved gripping and cruel.
The precipice upon which Granada, Cadiz and Real Mallorca tiptoed was also clear.
Win at home against an Espanyol team that was just four points above them and Granada were safe.
The SBOTOP La Liga 2022 betting odds would have backed them too given that Cadiz and Mallorca were both away.
Yet try as they might, Granada could not break though and that point, coupled with away successes for the other two, meant heartbreak – despite a fairly respectable points tally of 38.
Only in 2009 (Real Betis, 42) has a side collected more points this century and still gone down.
As that stalemate was being played out, Anthony Lozano’s 76th-minute goal saw off already relegated Alaves to earn Cadiz a 1-0 victory and safety. That feat was matched by Mallorca, who triumphed at midtable Osasuna, courtesy of second-half goals from Angel Rodriguez and Clement Grenier.
Cadiz’s revival was the most dramatic of the two stories as they entered the final 15 minutes still inside the bottom three in the Basque Country, before Lozano got across his man to poke home the winner.
An incredible finish at the bottom and the Segunda Division awaits Granada next term.
That left the remaining night’s action to focus on the final European place with a straight battle between Villarreal, taking on Barcelona at the Nou Camp, and Athletic Bilbao, on the road at Sevilla.
Midway through the first half and it seemed advantage Bilbao as Yuri Berchiche rifled the ball into the bottom right corner only for VAR to intervene.
Had it stood, it could have applied some pressure on the ‘Yellow Submarine’ but, instead, Alfonso Pedraza gave them the lead just before the break, an advantage doubled by Moi shortly after the restart.
Villarreal had sealed seventh place, a position confirmed when Rafa Mir gave Sevilla a 1-0 victory over Bilbao.
That ensured the Andalusians stayed fourth after second-half goals from Rodrigo de Paul and Ángel Correa earned Atletico Madrid third place with a 2-1 win at Real Sociedad, who will play in the Europa League next term.
After another campaign of La Liga 2022 highlights, the final word should go to the champions Real Madrid, who ended their triumphant league campaign with a draw against Real Betis.
Carlo Ancelotti named his strongest XI for the game between the La Liga champions and the Copa del Rey winners.
Real Madrid’s players gave a guard of honour to their opponents before Betis’ players returned the compliment
Last August, I predicted Real would reclaim the title with Ancelotti’s guile proving a difference.
It hardly took a footballing genius to point that out.
I also wrote that I didn’t think either of the leading Spanish clubs were yet ready to win the Champions League again.
Well, if Real do complete a La Liga and Champions League double, I will happily eat humble pie and they will deserve all the plaudits possible.
That was La Liga 2021/22.
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