Fernando Torres scored with 10 minutes left to give Atletico Madrid a 2-2 draw at Levante UD in La Liga on Sunday, while Villarreal sealed a UEFA Europa League berth for next season.
Atletico’s draw kept the soon-to-be-dethroned champions in third place, four points above Valencia with two matches remaining.
David Barral opened the scoring for Levante in the 32nd minute, only for Guilherme Siqueira to level three minutes later.
Photo: AFP
Kalu Uche put the hosts back ahead in the 63rd minute.
Atletico struggled in attack, but Torres substituted came on for Mario Mandzukic with 30 minutes to play and headed in Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion’s corner for the equalizer.
“Torres went on and gave us power, speed and fresh legs,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. “When our rivals are tired, he performs better. That’s how we had planned it. Mandzukic to start and Fernando for the second half. Fortunately, he scored the goal that got us closer to the result we wanted.”
Villarreal forward Joel Campbell nodded in what proved to be the 26th-minute winner to down Elche 1-0 at home, ending an 11-game winless streak and locking up a sixth-place finish for el Submarino Amarillo.
“I’m extremely grateful and proud of this team,” Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia said. “Two years ago we were in the second division and now we are going back to Europe.”
Elche were unlucky to not salvage at least a point after Pedro Mosquera sent two strikes off the woodwork.
Elche remained in 13th place and safe from the relegation fight, in front of 14th-place Levante, who still have work to do to guarantee they stay up.
Elsewhere, Sevilla stumbled to a 1-1 draw at RC Celta de Vigo as they try to catch Valencia and earn a UEFA Champions League berth.
Kevin Gameiro worked a one-two passing combination with Iago Aspas to put Sevilla ahead in the eighth minute, but Santi Mina leveled in the 58th from the penalty spot after Alejandro Arribas fouled Charles.
Sevilla coach Unai Emery missed the match due to the death of his father.
Sevilla visit ACF Fiorentina on Thursday holding a 3-0 advantage in their UEFA Europa League semi-final.
Malaga also broke a seven-game winless run by winning 2-1 at UD Almeria, moving the Andalusian club into seventh.
Javi Guerra scored in the 69th minute to secure the win that left Almeria a point above the drop zone.
Barcelona could clinch the title at the weekend with a win at Atletico, but the final two matches are in doubt after the Spanish federation announced it was suspending all matches from Saturday in protest at a proposed law regulating the sale of broadcasting rights.
Barcelona need only one win in their final two matches to dethrone Atletico after they beat Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday.
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