Sunday 15 May 2016 22:21, UK
The number of Madrid teams in La Liga dropped from four to two as Getafe and Rayo Vallecano were relegated on the final day.
Getafe were the only side with matters in their own hands but succumbed to a 2-1 defeat at Real Betis to end their 12-year stay in the top flight.
That handed Sporting Gijon the chance to keep themselves up and they duly obliged as goals from Jony and Sergio Alvarez secured a 2-0 victory over Villarreal and left coach Abelardo Fernandez in tears on the touchline.
Rayo beat already-relegated Levante 3-1 but victory couldn't extend their longest-ever stay in La Liga of five seasons as they fell a point short of Sporting.
Three straight defeats had left Rayo second bottom going into their final game, while their whole squad appeared at a pre-match press conference to dismiss allegations of match-fixing relating to the last of those against Real Sociedad.
They kept up their part of the bargain on Sunday as Pablo Hernandez and Jozabed put them two up in the first half.
Verza reduced the deficit for Levante by converting a 60th-minute penalty after Antonio Amaya's foul on Ruben Garcia but Miku struck his ninth goal of the season in the 73rd minute to restore Rayo's two-goal advantage.
Sporting's victory, though, condemned Rayo to the Segunda Division.
Jony Rodriguez gave Sporting an eighth-minute lead and Sergio Alvarez crashed home their second from outside the penalty area in the 79th minute.
Getafe had started the day in 17th but German Pezzella headed Betis into a 56th-minute lead and Ruben Castro's 72nd-minute penalty, following Damian Suarez's illegal challenge on Charly Musonda, put the home side in control.
Getafe substitute Emiliano Buendia was shown a straight red card in the 75th minute for his challenge on Dani Ceballos before the visitors ensured a frantic finale when midfielder Alvaro Medran's long-range shot flew into the top corner with six minutes left.
Gerard and Marco Asensio each struck twice as Espanyol closed their Primera Division campaign with a 4-2 home win against mid-table Eibar. Borja Baston's penalty and Sergi Enrich's late header made no difference to the outcome.
In the 11am kick-off, Malaga striker Charles struck twice to help lift his side up to an eighth-placed finish as they beat Las Palmas 4-1.
Croatia international Duje Cop gave Malaga the lead and although Willian Jose equalised for Las Palmas, Charles converted a penalty in first-half stoppage time and late goals from Christian Atsu and Charles made the game safe.
