Zinedine Zidane scored in his final game for Real Madrid on Tuesday, a consolation in a season-ending 4-3 loss to Sevilla.
Madrid conceded all four goals to the newly crowned UEFA Cup champion in a 17-minute spell before halftime after David Beckham had given Real a 2-0 lead.
Zidane, who is to retire after the World Cup, reduced the deficit in the 72nd.
Despite the loss, Real Madrid still finished in second place after Valencia failed to capitalise, ended a point behind in third after a 2-1 defeat at Osasuna in Tuesday’s other game.
Valencia’s loss means the 2002 and 2004 league champion must enter the European Champions League’s preliminary stage next season.
Osasuna’s victory secured fourth place and a debut in Europe’s top club competition, ending Sevilla fifth and returning it to the UEFA Cup next season.
Barcelona, which won the league title on May 3, has 82 points from 37 games, while Madrid finished with 70 and Valencia 69.
Osasuna and Sevilla ended with 68 but Osasuna finished higher due to head-to-head results.
The league season concludes Friday when Barcelona, which has to play without its international players, visits Athletic Bilbao, two days after it faces Arsenal in the Champions League final.
Madrid appeared to be cruising toward a victory at Sevilla’s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium and set to celebrate the final game of Zidane, who joined the club in 2001.
The French midfielder hit the bar following Beckham’s cross in the sixth minute.
Madrid, without Ronaldo for the sixth game due to a right thigh injury, enjoyed better luck in the 16th minute when Beckham’s floated free kick drifted past goalkeeper Andres Palop, who was distracted by forward Julio Baptista.
Beckham doubled his tally 10 minutes later when he controlled Roberto Carlos’ long, diagonal pass and slipped the ball through Palop’s legs. The goal was the England captain’s third in the league this season.
Madrid was rocked by Sevilla’s reply.
The first came when right winger Jesus Navas unleashed a fierce shot from outside the area in the 28th, with Javier Saviola driving the second two minutes later following a fumble by goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Sevilla took the lead in the 34th when Saviola turned home a low cross by Luis Fabiano just by Casillas’ left post. Luis Fabiano fired the fourth just before halftime from Navas’ pass.
Zidane, who scored nine days ago in his final match at Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, scored his last goal for the club when he seized on a loose ball following a corner.
Madrid’s defeat was possibly the last game for coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, who replaced Vanderlei Luxemburgo in December but is expected to lose his job after Madrid holds presidential elections on July 2.
Osasuna bid a happy farewell at its El Reyno de Navarra stadium to Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, who is reportedly joining Atletico Madrid in the offseason.
Striker Savo Milosevic met Ludovic Delporte’s cross and put Osasuna’s ahead in the 47th with his 11th goal of the season, and midfielder David Lopez fired an angled shot to double the lead three minutes later.
David Villa gave Valencia brief hope by converting a free kick in injury time. The goal was the Spain striker’s 25th this season, giving him a share of the league lead with Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o. – Sapa-AP