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Barcelona wins in Lewandowski's farewell. Sevilla avoids relegation despite loss to Real Madrid

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Barcelona wins in Lewandowski's farewell. Sevilla avoids relegation despite loss to Real Madrid
Sport

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Barcelona wins in Lewandowski's farewell. Sevilla avoids relegation despite loss to Real Madrid

2026-05-18 06:40 Last Updated At:06:51

MADRID (AP) — Spanish champion Barcelona capped a perfect season at home — 19 wins in 19 La Liga matches — with a 3-1 victory over Real Betis on Sunday as Robert Lewandowski bid an emotional farewell to Camp Nou.

Barcelona announced Saturday that the 37-year-old Lewandowski was leaving after four seasons.

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Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann applauds the supporters at the the end of a Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid in London, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann applauds the supporters at the the end of a Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid in London, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, duels for the ball with Sevilla's Kike Salas during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, duels for the ball with Sevilla's Kike Salas during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, controls the ball next to Sevilla's Gabriel Suazo and Sevilla's Joaquín Martínez Gauna during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, controls the ball next to Sevilla's Gabriel Suazo and Sevilla's Joaquín Martínez Gauna during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Antoine Griezmann also said goodbye to Atletico Madrid's fans at the Metropolitano stadium before he moves to the United States to play in Major League Soccer. Atletico beat Girona 1-0.

Two goals by Raphinha and one by João Cancelo kept Barcelona perfect at home in the Spanish league. The Catalan club had already clinched its second straight league title two rounds ago.

There is one round of matches left.

Lewandowski helped Barcelona win three Spanish league titles in four seasons, including this campaign, and one Copa del Rey, while scoring an impressive 119 goals in 192 appearances.

It was an emotional farewell for the Poland striker, who after the match was thrown into the air by his teammates. They also lined up and applauded Lewandowski as he went toward the locker room.

“It has been an honor to play for this club,” Lewandowski said. “We've enjoyed some great moments in these four years. I am very proud of everything we have achieved together. Today I say goodbye, but I will always carry Barcelona in my heart. Thank you so much, fans. Once a Barça fan, always a Barça fan.”

Griezmann is Atletico’s all-time leading scorer.

The French forward apologized again to fans on Sunday for having left Atletico to play for rival Barcelona.

“I didn’t realize how much I loved you here. I was very young. I made a mistake, I reconsidered, and we did everything we could to come back and enjoy it again,” he said.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone praised the 35-year-old Griezmann.

“Griezmann is possibly the best one to have ever played here,” Simeone said. “He’s an extraordinary guy, a genius. He’s the most game-changing player that we’ve coached here.”

Sevilla avoided relegation despite a 1-0 loss to Real Madrid at home.

Vinícius Júnior scored for Madrid, which had already sealed second place.

Kylian Mbappé started for Madrid three days after saying coach Álvaro Arbeloa had made him the team’s fourth-choice striker. He came off the bench in the win at Oviedo on Thursday in what was his return from an injury layoff.

It was a tight relegation fight coming into Sunday's matches and Sevilla secured its salvation thanks to other results. Alaves also guaranteed more top-tier soccer next season with a 1-0 win at already relegated Oviedo.

Five teams will enter next weekend's final round looking to avoid the drop: Levante, Osasuna, Elche, Girona and Mallorca.

Levante moved closer to safety with a 2-0 win over Mallorca and is 15th with 42 points, the same number of points as 16th-place Osasuna and 17th-place Elche.

Osasuna lost 2-1 to Espanyol at home, while Elche beat 10-man Getafe 1-0.

Inside the relegation zone are 17th-place Girona (40 points), second-to-last Mallorca (39) and Oviedo (29).

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann applauds the supporters at the the end of a Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid in London, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann applauds the supporters at the the end of a Champions League semifinal, second leg, soccer match between Arsenal FC and Atletico Madrid in London, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is thrown into the air by his teammates after his last game for the club at the end of the Spanish La Liga soccer match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu Parra)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, duels for the ball with Sevilla's Kike Salas during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, duels for the ball with Sevilla's Kike Salas during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, controls the ball next to Sevilla's Gabriel Suazo and Sevilla's Joaquín Martínez Gauna during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, controls the ball next to Sevilla's Gabriel Suazo and Sevilla's Joaquín Martínez Gauna during the Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla in Seville, Spain, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Aaron Rai shifted into high gear Sunday and pulled away from a world-class field with one amazing shot after another until he became the first English-born player in more than a century to capture the PGA Championship.

Rai, who dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver until he turned to golf, was three shots behind and approaching the turn at Aronimink Golf Club when he delivered a performance worthy of a major champion.

He made a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth during a stretch when he one-putted seven straight greens to take the lead.

And on the closing holes when the contenders needed him to stumble, Rai holed a birdie putt of some 70 feet across the 17th green for the clincher.

The 31-year-old Rai, the first player of Indian heritage to win a major, closed with a 5-under 65.

Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele all had their chances and until they were undone by untimely mistakes or failure to get good looks at birdie. McIlroy, who closed with a 69, played the par 5s in even for the week and he chopped up the reachable par-4 13th for a bogey.

Rai, who finished at 9-under 271, is the first player from England with his name on the Wanamaker Trophy since Jim Barnes in 1919, the second edition of this major and the first after World War I.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Aaron Rai, of England, waves on the 10th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Aaron Rai, of England, waves on the 10th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Aaron Rai, of England, hits his approach shot from the 18th fairway during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Aaron Rai, of England, hits his approach shot from the 18th fairway during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Aaron Rai, of England, embraces his caddie after his round on the 18th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Aaron Rai, of England, embraces his caddie after his round on the 18th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Aaron Rai, of England, waves on the 18th green after his round during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Aaron Rai, of England, waves on the 18th green after his round during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Aaron Rai, of England, celebrates after his shot on the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Aaron Rai, of England, celebrates after his shot on the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, looks at his club on the third fairway during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, looks at his club on the third fairway during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Alex Smalley hits from the bunker on the third green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Alex Smalley hits from the bunker on the third green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his shot on the 11th fairway during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watches his shot on the 11th fairway during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Justin Thomas reacts to missing a putt on the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Justin Thomas reacts to missing a putt on the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Matti Schmid, of Germany, waves on the third green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Matti Schmid, of Germany, waves on the third green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Scottie Scheffler reacts to missing a putt on the 17th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Scottie Scheffler reacts to missing a putt on the 17th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, reacts to a missed putt on the 12th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jon Rahm, of Spain, reacts to a missed putt on the 12th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Matti Schmid, of Germany, waves on the 18th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Matti Schmid, of Germany, waves on the 18th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, lines up his shot on the 16th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, lines up his shot on the 16th green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Alex Smalley hits from the fourth tee during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Alex Smalley hits from the fourth tee during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Aronimink Golf Club, Saturday, May 16, 2026, in Newtown Square, PA. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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