Atlético holds on to win 1st Spanish league title since 2014

MADRID (AP) — Atlético Madrid survived a dramatic final round to clinch its first Spanish league title since 2014 with a 2-1 come-from-behind win at Valladolid on Saturday.

Luis Suárez scored the winner for Atlético as it beat Real Madrid for the title in a wild finish that had plenty of twists with the two remaining title contenders playing at the same time.

Madrid couldn’t repeat as champion despite rallying to defeat Villarreal 2-1 at home and giving Atlético a very late scare. A win for Madrid and draw for Atlético would have kept the title with Madrid on the head-to-head tiebreaker.

The results left Atlético two points in front of Madrid at the end of the 38-round season, giving Diego Simeone’s team its second league title in 25 years. Atlético’s previous league title was in 1996, when Simeone still played for the club.

As players chanted and celebrated on the field, several hundred Atlético fans held their own celebrations outside the José Zorrilla Stadium in Valladolid. Some players later joined them, sharing hugs and chanting together, many without masks.

Atlético’s 11th league title ended a seven-year dominance by Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain. Since 2014, Barcelona had won the league four times and Madrid twice, including last season.

Real Madrid was trying to win back-to-back league trophies for the first time since 2007-08.

Barcelona was out of contention entering the final round.

Atlético led the league since the ninth round but risked losing it at the end after Valladolid jumped ahead with a goal by Óscar Plano in the 18th minute, but Ángel Correa equalized in the 57th and Suárez sealed the win in the 67th.

It was the 21st league goal for Suárez, who was key for Atlético throughout the season after being let go by Barcelona against his wishes.

The Uruguay striker was clearly moved after the match.

“Atlético opened the doors to me,” Suárez said. “I’ll always be very thankful for this great club.”

Like last weekend, things changed quickly at the top in a wild round.

A win by Atlético would clinch the title no matter what but it went down a goal early to open the door for a Madrid comeback.

At the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, who was with the substitutes, tried to alert his teammates that Atlético was losing, but it took only a few seconds before Madrid also conceded. Villarreal’s opener by Yéremi Pino came two minutes after Valladolid’s goal against Atlético.

In Valladolid, Simeone was down on a knee, shaking his head. He raised his arm and looked back to his bench, apparently searching for answers as his team appeared nervous and continued to struggle.

Madrid thought it had equalized against Villarreal with a header by Karim Benzema in the 55th, but video review determined he was offside. The play was still under review at the Di Stéfano when Atlético took the lead in Valladolid two minutes later.

Ángel Correa scored after dribbling past two opponents outside the area and finding the net with a low shot between the legs of a defender.

Atlético started breathing a sigh of relief 10 minutes later as Suárez scored the go-ahead goal in a breakaway, calmly sending a shot into the net in a one-on-one situation with Valladolid goalkeeper Jordi Masip.

Atlético wasn’t safe yet, though, as Madrid rallied with Benzema scoring in the 87th and Luka Modric scored in stoppage time to give the defending champions a chance.

There were only a few minutes left in Valladolid, though, and Atlético held on for the victory and the title.

BARCELONA WINS

Barcelona closed its season with a 1-0 win at last-place Eibar.

Without Lionel Messi, who was allowed to start his vacation early, Barcelona secured third place after Antoine Griezmann scored an 81st-minute winner.

EUROPEAN SPOTS

Real Sociedad secured fifth place and a Europa League spot with a 1-0 win at Osasuna.

Sixth-place Real Betis won 3-2 at Celta Vigo and also guaranteed a spot in European competitions. But whether it will be in the new Europa Conference League will depend on Villarreal’s result in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Manchester United.

If Villarreal wins that final, it will go straight to the Champions League next season and Spain will lose one of its spots in the Europa League, leaving Betis in the Europa Conference League.

Villarreal finished in seventh place and needs the win on Wednesday to return to a European competition next season.

RELEGATION

Valladolid and Huesca joined Eibar as the three relegated teams for next season. Eibar had already been demoted last weekend.

Elche escaped on Saturday after beating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home. Huesca drew 0-0 against Valencia, also at home.

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Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson contributed to this report from Barcelona, Spain.