Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-2 on Saturday, May 23, 2026, to close out a difficult La Liga season [1].
The result marks a critical turning point for the club's leadership and establishes the final standings for the league's bottom tier. While Real Madrid found a positive conclusion to their campaign, the final round of matches resulted in significant losses for other Spanish clubs.
Real Madrid's victory was the final match for Alvaro Arbeloa as the team's coach [5]. The win provided a reprieve for a squad that struggled throughout the year, ending what has been described as a troubled season [1].
Elsewhere in the league, the struggle for survival ended in failure for two teams. Mallorca and Girona were both relegated from La Liga [2]. The two clubs failed to secure the necessary points to avoid the bottom three positions in the standings [2].
This relegation means both Mallorca and Girona will move down to the second tier of Spanish football. The finality of the May 23 matches [4] confirms the league's composition for the upcoming cycle, leaving the relegated sides to reorganize for a lower division.
“Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-2”
The simultaneous conclusion of Real Madrid's struggle and the relegation of Girona and Mallorca signals a shift in the league's power dynamics. Real Madrid's ability to end the season with a high-scoring win suggests a potential recovery path, while the relegation of two established sides underscores the increasing volatility and competitiveness at the bottom of the La Liga table.
