There may never have been a fight for survival in La Liga quite like this | Sid Lowe

Six teams went into the final game within two points of each other and the last relegation place. There was drama and tears

“Life hits you hard sometimes; this is one of those times,” Papa Pezzolano said when at last it was over and it was confirmed that his team was the one heading to the second division, hope eventually extinguished in the 100th minute of the final day of the longest season. “The dressing room is destroyed,” the Real Valladolid coach admitted as his voice cracked and the tears came. Across the way, that could have been meant literally; in there, the beers were open and Getafe’s players, survival secured, were climbing on tables and leaping about, crashing into each other, throwing things about, soaking and serenading the coach who had come to rescue them. “Bordalas, I love you,” could be heard through the walls.

All over Spain similar scenes were repeated – in Valladolid and Vigo, Elche, Seville and Barcelona – and everywhere there were tears. “I’m close, yeah,” Cádiz manager Sergio admitted afterwards, speaking for everyone. “I’m absolutely exhausted; I’m dead,” said Valencia coach Rubén Baraja, doing much the same. “My heart’s still going at 130 bpm; there was so much tension,” added Almería manager Rubi. When it came to Gabri Veiga, he declared “This is everything to me. I love Celta”, but actions spoke even louder: the kid whose two goals saved them and were probably his last service for the club where he grew up, sat on the bench at Balaidos and broke down, sobbing.