Spain's La Liga came to a dramatic close on Saturday afternoon as 4 sides came into the final round with their future in the top flight still in the balance. Granada, Eibar, Almeria and former champions, Deportivo la Coruna were all in danger of relegation going into round 38, with only 2 spots left in the top flight.
In the end, Almeria and brave Eibar, who had only been promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history the season before would be the ones relegated as Granada and Deportivo secured draws against top dogs Atletico Madrid and champions Barcelona on the final day.
Indeed, Deportivo's draw with Barcelona at the Camp Nou was the most dramatic as they came from 2-0 down with 25 minutes to go to snatch a 2-2 draw - and send Eibar who were beating already relegated Cordoba 3-0 at the time back into the 2nd division after only one season.
It was a reminder that there is more to football than some overpaid league in England - how many Spanish clubs are in European cup finals this season? How about English clubs?
While the Gallician club's heroics were eye-catching, the main focus at the Camp Nou was saying farewell to long-time stalwart, Xavi.
The footballing career of Xavier "Xavi" Hernandez Creus is nowadays a rare one - a player who came through the ranks of his boyhood club and would stay there for all but for a few last years of his career.
Yes, between 1998 and 2015, Barcelona has seen plenty of stars come through the ranks, e.g. Rivaldo, the Dutch boys, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, but Xavi was always the Catalan heart of this superstar team along with his fellow compatriots, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique and Victor Valdes.
He was the grand heart of the midfield with a fabulous dribbling and passing game along with tremendous energy even in his later years. Steven Gerrard, Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and Wesley Sneijder might have been more "famous" than Xavi who was very understated and a true team man. But I've always tended to pick Xavi in my World XIs particularly when La Rojas had their smashing run at the Euros and World Cup between 2008 and 2012.
I guess La Rojas' troubled World Cup campaign in Brazil last year coincided with the beginning of Xavi's decline - a sign of how influential and instrumental he was to Spain's most successful run in international football.
Indeed, Xavi's fall from grace continued this season with his game time for Barca limited, whether he was a substitute or starter. However, he still provided plenty of experience and presence in the dressing room and provided the perfect foil for his heir, Ivan Rakitic to bed into life at the Camp Nou.
Xavi does have two big games with Barcelona coming up with silverware at stake; the Copa del Rey Final next week at the Camp Nou - this game was always going to be the farewell game given that the Camp Nou will be considered a neutral ground and that a trophy is at stake - and then the Champions League Final in Berlin the week after.
Nevertheless, if there is one player who deserves an elongated farewell, Xavier "Xavi" Hernandez will be that player. Outside of Catalonia, Xavi's achievements and exploits will be better remembered in retirement and in football's new pastures of Qatar.
But for me, Xavi was the model footballer and in this day of age of prima donnas and overpaid actors, Xavi was a good reminder of what we love about the game.
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