Girona FC relegated to second division on final day of the season

Girona FC have been relegated from the top flight of Spanish football on the last day of the season, after a 2-1 to Deportivo Alavés.

Going into the final day of the season, the Catalan club’s chances of avoiding relegation were already slim and were dealt a further blow during the week with the news of an injury to their top scorer Cristhian Stuani, ruling him out of the game.

The drop to the second division sees the end of the Blanquivermells’ first stint in Spain’s top tier. Last season was the first time the club ever competed in the Primera División, and a 10th place finish gave the team encouragement for this campaign.

There will be a bitter disappointment to how the season ended in north Catalonia, as Girona sat comfortably mid-table at the halfway point of the season.

A run of nine losses in 11 matches saw the club fall into peril going into the last day, and their relegation was ultimately confirmed in Mendizorrotza stadium this weekend.

“This is a very difficult moment and the first thing I want to do is take responsibility for myself,” manager Eusebio Sacristán said following last week’s loss at home to Levante, which all but sealed their fate.

“I’ve let a lot of people down, those who’ve had so much confidence in me, the club management, the players, the fans, and ultimately, all who love this great club,” Sacristán lamented.

Espanyol and Barcelona

Elsewhere, Espanyol have finished the season earning an unlikely Europa League spot after their 2-0 win against Real Sociedad. 

That result, coupled with Athletic Bilbao's loss away to Sevilla, means that the Barcelona-based side will compete in European competition for the first time in over a decade, ending the La Liga season in 7th position.

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona ended the season as champions after comfortably securing a 26th league title after a narrow win against Levante some weeks ago. The title is their eighth in the last 11 years.