MADRID: Real Betis were relegated from the Spanish top-flight on a heart-breaking final Sunday of the season, drawing 1-1 at home to Valladolid while relegation rivals Osasuna and Sporting Gijon both won.

Betis started a point above the drop zone knowing a win would keep them in the top tier but Sporting's 2-1 comeback win over Recreativo Huelva coupled with Osasuna's sensational 2-1 victory against nine-man Real Madrid saw them relegated with 42 points.

Betis were last relegated in 2000 but immediately won promotion the following season and have been in the first division since 2001, finishing as high as fourth in 2005. "It is a sad day because once again the football gods weren't on our side," said Betis coach Jose Maria Nogues. "Betis now have to get back in the top division for their fans and history."

Getafe, who drew 1-1 with Racing Santander, also finished on 42 points but stayed up on goal difference while Valladolid's draw at Betis was enough to keep them safe. It was particularly tough for Betis duo Sergio Garcia and Ricardo Oliveira, who cost a combined 19 million euros after being relegated with Real Zaragoza last season.

At half-time Sporting Gijon, trailing Recre 1-0, were set to be relegated but came back to win 2-1 and secure their top-flight status. Sporting had spent a decade in the second division before winning promotion last season and defied the odds to stay up with Luis Moran scoring a dramatic winner.

Osasuna were third from bottom before kick off and fell behind against Real Madrid when Gonzalo Higuain scored early on. However, they battled back, equalising through Jaroslav Plasil before Juanfran smashed a stunning volley past Iker Casillas to keep them in the division. Michel Salgado and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar were both sent off for Real, who crashed to a fifth successive defeat.

Earlier, Espanyol bid farewell to their Montjuic stadium in style with captain Raul Tamudo scoring a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over 10-man Malaga. Tamudo, the club's all-time top-scorer and an icon after spending his entire career at Espanyol, scored twice in the first half and completed his treble with a 56th-minute penalty to give the Montjuic the perfect send-off. Espanyol's new Cornella-El Prat stadium looked destined to host second-division football next season before the club produced a sensational late run to beat the drop.

Elsewhere, Sevilla defeated relegated Numancia 2-0 in a game with little at stake. Sevilla already had a Champions League spot wrapped up before the game. Numancia will prepare for life in the second division with the highlight of their campaign a 1-0 victory over treble-winners Barcelona in Soria on the opening day of the season.