Barca’s Xavi plays last La Liga game, lifts trophy

A giant banner of FC Barcelona's Xavi is displayed prior to the La Liga match vs. Deportivo La Coruna at the Camp Nou. (Manu Fernandez/AP)

BARCELONA, Spain — Valencia fought back twice to earn a Champions League berth with a 3-2 away win that relegated Almeria on a dramatic final day of the Spanish league Saturday.

Eibar also went down despite beating last-place Cordoba 3-0, while Deportivo La Coruna stayed up after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 at already crowned champion Barcelona.

Lionel Messi put Barcelona in front with his 42nd and 43rd league goals of the season.

Barcelona’s fans paid homage to Xavi Hernandez, who played his last league game after 17 seasons at the club.

Xavi will get one more chance to play at Camp Nou next weekend when Barcelona hosts Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey final. Barcelona will then play Juventus for the European Cup in Berlin on June 6.

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