Atlético secure a place among Europe's elite

Club Atlético de Madrid claimed the final UEFA Champions League berth in the Spanish Liga, their 3-0 victory against UD Almería ensuring Villarreal CF had to settle for UEFA Europa League football alongside Valencia CF and beaten cup finalists Athletic Club Bilbao.

Agüero opener
Abel Resino's charges required a single point to book their place in next season's UEFA Champions League play-off round and that appeared a formality from the moment Sergio Agüero wrong-footed two defenders and rifled the opener in after 19 minutes. Eight minutes later it was 2-0 when an inswinging free-kick from Maxi Rodríguez was headed in from close range by an unmarked Raúl García.

Scoring streak
An eighth win in nine league matches was confirmed five minutes after half-time with Diego Forlán's 20-metre drive earning him a place on the scoresheet in eight successive Liga matches. The Uruguayan's 12 strikes in those matches also played a significant role in securing him this season's Pichichi award, his 32 league goals two better than FC Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o.

Llorente double
Villarreal contented themselves with a place in next season's UEFA Europa League after a 3-2 win at RCD Mallorca secured the Yellow Submarine a fifth-place finish. Joseba Llorente fed Cani for the visitors' opener on the half hour only for Aritz Aduriz to equalise six minutes later. Giuseppe Rossi missed a penalty six minutes before the break, but Llorente was on hand shortly afterwards to put Villarreal into the lead. The same player took advantage of some good work by Cani to make it 3-1 after the restart while Pierre Webó reduced arrears in added time.

Top-six finish
Valencia could finish no higher than sixth as a result and they confirmed that position with David Villa (7) and Pablo Hernández (90) on target at home to Athletic. That outcome in turn dashed RC Deportivo La Coruña's European aspirations, Miguel Lotina's side ending their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to champions Barcelona.