There may never have been a fight for survival in La Liga quite like this
“L ife hits you hard sometimes; this is one of those times,” Papa Pezzolano said when at last it was over and it was confirmed that his team was the one heading to the second division, hope eventually extinguished in the 100th minute of the final day of the longest season. “The dressing room is destroyed,” the Real Valladolid coach admitted as his voice cracked and the tears came. Across the way, that could have been meant literally; in there, the beers were open and Getafe’s players, survival secured, were climbing on tables and leaping about, crashing into each other, throwing things about, soaking and serenading the coach who had come to rescue them. “Bordalas, I love you,” could be heard through the walls.
