Chapter 205: The La Liga Season Concludes

Before their match against Mallorca, Real Madrid maintained their strong form, having secured a 2-0 away victory in their previous match. With qualification for the Champions League final on the line, they adopted a more cautious approach in midweek, grinding out a 1-1 draw at home, which secured their spot in the final set for May 16.

The other finalist was a surprising one—Leverkusen. Facing a depleted Manchester United missing two key midfielders, the German side put in a stellar performance. A 2-2 draw away and a 1-1 draw at home saw Leverkusen advance on away goals, marking a historic moment as they reached the Champions League final for the first time.

United suffered heavily at the hands of two underdog teams. They had already struggled against Mallorca, barely advancing on away goals but losing two key players in the process. This weakened squad was then eliminated by another dark horse, Leverkusen, again on away goals.

But none of that mattered to Mallorca anymore. Their sole focus was now on their upcoming away clash with Real Madrid.

Madrid, too, viewed this match as crucial. Only by defeating Mallorca could they keep their title hopes alive—however slim those hopes were. A club of Real Madrid's stature would never give up, as there was always the possibility that Valencia might crumble under pressure.

From Valencia's perspective, as long as Mallorca faltered, the title was theirs.

All three teams needed to win their last two matches to stay in contention. Madrid had the home advantage, Mallorca had the points lead, and Valencia had a more favorable schedule. The decisive moment would come after Matchday 37.

Mallorca had the advantage of fresher legs, while Madrid had the home crowd behind them. Both teams were determined to win—Spain was expecting a goal fest.

However, the match turned out to be a disappointment.

José and Vicente del Bosque were locked in a tactical battle, both managers carefully adjusting their strategies. The players fought cautiously in midfield, neither side willing to take unnecessary risks. Madrid struggled to break down Mallorca's defense, while Mallorca's counterattacks failed to breach Madrid's backline. Both goalkeepers were in top form, and despite attacking until the final whistle, the match ended in a goalless draw.

A result that harmed both teams.

Meanwhile, Valencia took full advantage, securing a 2-0 away victory over Málaga. This win put them at the top of the table with 72 points, surpassing Mallorca's 71. Madrid, now on 69 points, sat three points behind the leaders.

Madrid still had a theoretical chance—if both Valencia and Mallorca lost their final matches while Madrid won, they could clinch the title on goal difference. They had an identical head-to-head record against Valencia (a 1-0 home win and a 1-0 away loss), but against Mallorca, they held the advantage (a 1-1 away draw and a 0-0 home draw). Even if Mallorca drew their last match, Madrid would finish ahead of them.

The final round was set: a Valencia win would guarantee them the title. Mallorca needed to win and hope Valencia dropped points. Madrid's situation was even more desperate.

The Spanish media analyzed every possible scenario:

If Mallorca won, Valencia drew, and Madrid won, Mallorca would be champions. If Mallorca drew, Valencia lost, and Madrid won, Madrid would be champions. If Mallorca drew, Valencia lost, and Madrid lost or drew, Mallorca would be champions. If Valencia won, they would be champions regardless of other results. If all three teams lost, Valencia would still be champions. If Valencia drew, as long as Mallorca didn't win, Valencia would remain champions.

But José had a gut feeling—Mallorca would likely finish second again.

Compared to last season, it was still a significant improvement. Last year, their goal was merely to secure second place. This season, they had been genuine title contenders until the very end. But to lead the league for so long, only to lose the title in the final stretch, was heartbreaking.

Despite failing to secure three crucial points, earning a draw at the Bernabéu against a formidable Real Madrid side was still an impressive feat. However, given the timing, that one point felt utterly frustrating.

José had no intention of blaming his players. Mallorca had played at an exceptionally high level, matching Madrid blow for blow. Had it not been for Casillas' miraculous save on Luke's close-range effort in the final moments, Mallorca might have walked away with a vital victory.

José also had to admit that this season's Real Madrid was stronger than last season's. Despite Mallorca doing the double over them the previous year, Madrid had bolstered their squad significantly. With Zidane's arrival and the implementation of a double-pivot midfield system, Madrid's midfield was nearly flawless. While they occasionally stumbled over the course of a long season, they were incredibly tough to beat in direct matchups.

Still, Mallorca's title hopes weren't entirely dead. This was precisely the time to remain focused—losing the title because the opposition won was one thing, but losing it due to their own failure to win was another. This was a moment to show whether a team had the resilience and character of true champions.

Furthermore, their final game was at home. As their last home match of the season, they owed their fans a memorable performance.

Despite finishing the season without a single trophy—worse than last year, when they at least won the Copa del Rey—anyone who had watched Mallorca this season could see the progress they had made. Their starting lineup was stronger, their squad depth had improved, and their core players had shown significant growth. While they still lacked a true superstar, their key players were beginning to display real star quality. If they could maintain this level, Mallorca would be even better next season.

The only concern was keeping their squad intact over the summer. Many of their players had drawn interest from other clubs, and nobody could predict how severe the transfer exodus might be.

May 12 – The Final Matchday

Valencia hosted Real Betis.

Real Madrid faced Deportivo La Coruña away.

Mallorca played Valladolid at home.

Madrid's situation was indeed the most difficult.

Barcelona, meanwhile, had already been mathematically eliminated from next season's Champions League contention. They had only 63 points, while Deportivo had 66 and Madrid had 69. Even if Barça won their final match and Deportivo lost, they would still finish behind them due to their inferior head-to-head record (a 2-1 away loss and a 3-2 home win). It had been a disastrous season for the Catalan giants.

Back at San Moix, Mallorca attacked relentlessly from the start. Valladolid, with little to play for, offered little resistance and crumbled after 30 minutes. Luke and Eto'o both found the net again, and Motta added another goal. By the 60th minute, Mallorca was cruising with a 3-0 lead.

With the match effectively over, José made three substitutions, bringing on veterans Engonga, Olaizola, and Soler for Motta, Ronaldinho, and Capdevila. His attention then shifted to the game in Valencia.

At the Mestalla, Valencia vs. Betis was still 0-0 in the 60th minute. Betis, chasing a UEFA Cup spot, were playing aggressively. Their hopes had been revived after Celta suffered consecutive losses, and with Celta trailing Rayo Vallecano, Betis had renewed determination.

Benítez, standing tense on the sideline, knew that one goal could secure his first-ever league title. In the final stretch of the season, Valencia had been in outstanding form, winning six of their last seven matches, including a crucial draw against Mallorca. They fully deserved to be in this position.

Then, in the 88th minute, it happened.

The Mestalla erupted as Baraja headed home a pinpoint corner from Ibagaza, burying the ball into the top corner. Valencia led 1-0.

The title was within reach.

Two minutes later, with Betis demoralized, Vicente broke down the wing and fired in a stunning goal to seal a 2-0 win.

Back in Mallorca, the San Moix crowd fell silent.

Everyone knew—their season would end as runners-up.

Some fans wept in the stands. At the start of the season, few had even dreamed of winning the league. But to lead for so long, only to lose the title at the very end, was agonizing.

At the final whistle, there was no celebration. Mallorca's players lined up and saluted their fans before quietly exiting the pitch.

But the applause from the stands continued long after they had left.

Thus, the 2001-02 La Liga season came to an end.