In a dramatic conclusion to La Liga's relegation battle, Leganes has been relegated to Spain's second division despite securing a convincing 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Valladolid on the final day of the season.
The Madrid-based club dominated their already-relegated opponents with three first-half goals from Carrera (24'), Diomande (36'), and Cruz (40') in a commanding performance at their home stadium. However, their impressive win proved insufficient to secure top-flight survival.
Leganes' fate was sealed elsewhere as Espanyol defeated Las Palmas 2-0, with Puado converting a penalty in the 65th minute before Milla added a second goal in the 82nd minute. This result ensured Espanyol's safety while confirming Leganes as the third and final team to drop down to Segunda Division.
The relegation trio is now complete with Leganes joining Las Palmas and Valladolid, who had already been confirmed for the drop prior to the final round of matches. What makes Leganes' situation particularly painful is that they finished the season with a convincing victory but still couldn't escape relegation.
According to Statbet, this marks one of the few occasions in La Liga history where a team has won by three or more goals on the final day but still suffered relegation due to results elsewhere.
In the Leganes-Valladolid match, the home side fielded a strong lineup with Dmitrovic in goal and a potent attacking force featuring El Haddadi and Diomande. Their commanding first-half display ultimately proved to be a bittersweet farewell to the top division.
Meanwhile, at Espanyol's stadium, the home team secured their survival with a professional performance against Las Palmas. Goalkeeper Garcia kept a clean sheet behind a solid defensive effort, while the attacking combination of Puado, Esposito, and Fernandez created enough chances to secure the vital win.
As the season concludes, three clubs now face the challenge of rebuilding in Spain's second tier, while Espanyol celebrates maintaining their La Liga status after navigating through a tense relegation battle.
