Last-placed Elche become 1st team relegated from La Liga this season

Bottom-of-the-table Elche were relegated from La Liga on Tuesday, with a 2-1 defeat at Almeria ensuring they cannot climb higher than 18th.

Leo Baptistao and Adri Embarba struck to take Almeria provisionally 14th, five points clear of the relegation zone, with Ezequiel Ponce pulling one back late on for the visitors.

Elche, 20th with just three wins all season, had delayed relegation at the weekend with a thumping 4-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.

The east coast club was promoted back to La Liga in 2020, finishing 17th and 13th in the two subsequent seasons.

Elche sacked coach Francisco Rodriguez in October, replacing him with Jorge Almiron, who lasted less than a month.

Pablo Machin took over, but Elche sacked him too in March, appointing current incumbent Sebastian Beccacece, who could not keep them up.