Vinicius Junior was sent off amid a late brawl as Real Madrid fell to a 1-0 loss against Valencia in an ill-tempered LaLiga encounter.

The Brazil winger had already been at the centre of another flashpoint earlier in the game, following a bizarre incident involving two balls on the pitch at Mestalla.

Diego Lopez's lone goal helped Los Che continue their resurgent form as they seek to secure top-flight safety in the final weeks of the season.

But for Carlo Ancelotti's visitors - fresh from a chastening Champions League exit against Manchester City - it marked a miserable return to domestic duty.

Nottinghamshire moved into fourth in the LV= Insurance County Championship Division One table after drawing against Essex.

Having been 144 runs behind on the first innings, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook scored 99 alongside Tom Westley’s 95 to help Essex put on 362 for eight before declaring.

With the hosts set 219 to chase in 39 overs, Nottinghamshire were 97 for four, still 122 runs short of their target, when the sides agreed to call it a day with five of the scheduled overs unbowled.

In Division Two, Ajaz Patel finished with match figures of 10 for 209 as Durham cemented their position at the top with a 125-run triumph over Gloucestershire at Bristol.

The hosts were bowled out for 300 before lunch despite Marcus Harris carrying his bat with an unbeaten 122 and putting on an eighth-wicket stand of 88 with Josh Shaw (44).

However, New Zealand Test left-arm spinner Patel was able to follow up his five for 113 in the first innings with five for 96 as Durham earned their fourth victory in six games.

Elsewhere, an extraordinary effort saw Glamorgan pile up a vast total of 737 to save their match against Sussex, which ended in a draw.

Michael Neser became the third century-maker of the innings, following Marnus Labuschagne and Kiran Carlson, as Glamorgan turned a first-innings deficit of 358 into a lead of 379 against the weakened hosts.

Any doubt about the outcome of the match had long gone by the time the players shook hands.

Late goals from Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Gianluca Gaetano guided Serie A champions Napoli to a 3-1 win over 10-man Inter, denting the Nerazzurri's bid for a top-four finish.

Simone Inzaghi named a much-changed team with one eye on Wednesday's Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina, and Inter's task was made more difficult when Roberto Gagliardini was dismissed after picking up two first-half bookings.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa broke Inter's resistance when he fired home on the turn, but Romelu Lukaku looked to have stolen a point with a close-range finish eight minutes from time.

Napoli were determined to continue their Scudetto celebrations with another win, however, Di Lorenzo firing into the top-left corner before Gaetano struck on the break to leave Inter vulnerable in the top-four battle.

Roberto De Zerbi told Brighton supporters to get their passports ready but warned the club must continue improving ahead of their maiden European campaign next season.

Evan Ferguson netted twice in the first half of Albion’s 3-1 victory over Southampton in front of a sold-out Amex Stadium, where Pascal Gross restored the two-goal advantage following Mohamed Elyounoussi’s header for the relegated Saints.

The three points assured De Zerbi’s side would not finish lower than seventh, in the Europa Conference League spot, though a sixth-place finish and a Europa League berth are all but mathematically guaranteed.

“Today is difficult for me because with my English I can’t explain my emotion,” said the Italian manger, who succeeded Graham Potter in September.

“I think we deserve this. The club, the players, me, my staff, and the fans, they have to organise their passports to travel in Europe next year because we have to grow together.”

De Zerbi, who last week was shortlisted for the Premier League’s manager of the season award, was increasingly animated on the touchline throughout Sunday’s contest, which was made more interesting when Elyounoussi nodded past Jason Steele after 58 minutes.

It felt everyone in the stands held a single collective breath soon after when Theo Walcott lifted the ball over the Albion keeper but the potential Saints equaliser was chalked off for offside.

Relief made way for elation when Gross fired in the hosts’ third from the edge of the area to put the game away.

But De Zerbi warned booking tickets to Europe is just the beginning of a new era for Brighton, who now must ensure they have the squad to compete in four competitions next term.

He said: “I think the history of the Premier League explains. It can happen, you achieve Europe and the next year you can find yourself at the bottom of the table.

“Now is the crucial moment for the club. Not for Roberto, for the players, but for the club, because we have to keep this level. We have to build a squad to improve our level because I think (chairman) Tony (Bloom) and the club they don’t want to lose this level.

“And to not lose this level we have to work harder in this transfer market, not only in the transfer market but to organise better and better and better because the victory can be dangerous.

“If you celebrate the victory it’s right, it’s normal, but you have to improve. You have to work harder because you can lose the level.”

De Zerbi admitted that at one point his high-flying Seagulls had set an internal goal of qualifying for the Champions League, adding: “I always think it is good for the players to fix the big target.

“We have improved in mentality, we have improved in confidence, we had a target and we still have a target. We have to get another point to play in Europa League.”

Anything below sixth for the Seagulls looks highly unlikely, with Albion enjoying a considerable advantage on goal difference and a game in hand on seventh-placed Villa, their final opponents of the campaign.

Southampton were already relegated before Saturday’s contest.

Ruben Selles’ contract is set to expire after the season, but he insisted that as far as he was aware reports about the potential appointment of Swansea boss Russell Martin as his successor were unsubstantiated.

The Saints boss added: “About my future, again I’m not worried about my future.

“I know that my contract expires at the end of the season and what the club decides, it’s going to be the club’s decision.

“It’s not my decision, I cannot control it, so I cannot spend time on that.”

Manchester City earned their third straight Premier League title as Arsenal faltered against Nottingham Forest, who earned a 1-0 win to secure top-flight safety.

Manchester United took another surge towards Champions League football and Brighton booked their spot in Europe next season with a win against Southampton.

Here the PA news agency takes a look at another action-packed weekend of top-flight football.

Celebrations for City as Arsenal lose out

Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions for a third successive season after Arsenal lost 1-0 by Nottingham Forest on Saturday. The Gunners had spent 248 days at the top of the table and held an eight-point lead over City in March, but poor results saw Pep Guardiola’s side able to take advantage to seal their fifth title in six years with two games remaining.

With the title already secured, Guardiola made nine changes for Chelsea’s visit on Sunday, where Julian Alvarez’s goal ensured a straightforward 1-0 win for the treble-chasing side.

Forest safe in style

While Arsenal’s defeat grabbed the headlines, for Forest their victory against the Gunners was a huge sigh of relief as they secured top-flight football for another year.

Taiwo Awoniyi’s first-half goal was the difference to earn a huge three points which means Forest are unable to be caught by Southampton, Leeds, Leicester or Everton.

Many believed Steve Cooper’s side were destined for a return to the Championship throughout the season following an 11-game winless stretch towards the end of April, but three wins in their last five games ensure another year in the Premier League.

Champions League deciders

The race for Champions League football continued with Manchester United taking another step towards a top-four finish. Casemiro scored an incredible overhead kick as United earned a 1-0 win at Bournemouth, while Newcastle, who are tied on 69 points with United, play Leicester on Monday night.

Both sides just need one point each to qualify for the Champions League after Liverpool’s draw at Aston Villa saw the Anfield club’s top four hopes take a blow.

Seagulls secure Europe

Brighton booked an historic European spot for the first time in their history after beating already-relegated Southampton 3-1.

18-year-old Evan Ferguson scored twice in the first half to send the Seagulls into Europe and strengthen their place in sixth, meaning they all but secure Europa League football with a game in hand.

Brighton could still finish level on points with seventh-placed Aston Villa, who they play on the final day, but Villa would have to overcome a near-impossible goal difference to finish above the Seagulls.

Who’s for the drop?

With Southampton’s relegation confirmed last weekend, two more teams are set to drop into the Championship next season. Forest secured safety, while Everton’s chances of survival were handed a big boost after they snatched a point deep into stoppage time against Wolves.

Yerry Mina’s last minute equaliser means the Toffees moved their points tally on to 33 points ahead of a final day showdown against Bournemouth.

They sit just one place above Leeds, who remain third from bottom after losing 3-1 to West Ham and come up against Tottenham next weekend, while Leicester face high-flying Newcastle on Monday ahead of a final day home match against the Hammers.

Manchester City celebrated their latest Premier League title triumph with a straightforward 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing side had already been confirmed as champions for a fifth time in six seasons after Arsenal’s loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

That meant the Etihad Stadium was in celebratory mood for the visit of the Blues and a much-changed side gave the fans another success to cheer courtesy of an early Julian Alvarez goal.

Chelsea had a few bright moments but City, without getting anywhere near the intensity with which they crushed Real Madrid in midweek, always seemed in control.

Fans had arrived to party in the sunshine and the ‘Poznan’ was seen on more than one occasion.

City were given a guard of honour by their opponents as they entered the field and they went on to knock the ball around with a such a swagger that – perhaps embarrassingly for a Chelsea side that aspires to the heights City have reached – it appeared the Londoners faced a long afternoon.

It seemed only a matter of time before the opening goal came and it arrived after 12 minutes as City seized possession in midfield and Cole Palmer picked out Alvarez in front of goal.

The Argentina World Cup winner took a touch and then emphatically drilled a shot across Kepa Arrizabalaga. It was City’s 100th home goal in all competitions this season.

Chelsea looked well off the pace, much as they have done throughout what has been a dispiriting end to the season under temporary boss Frank Lampard.

Former City forward Raheem Sterling attempted to rouse them. The England international twice got behind the City defence but was unable to pick out a team-mate the first time and then had a shot saved by Stefan Ortega.

Conor Gallagher then went closer when he headed against the post from a Lewis Hall cross.

Yet City always seemed in command and Phil Foden was only narrowly off-target with an attempted chip and Kalvin Phillips, finally making his first league start for the champions, blasted wide.

Phillips was inches away from getting on the scoresheet after the break when he met a Riyad Mahrez free-kick with a firm header but it rebounded off the foot of the post.

At the other end, Hall and Sterling both shot at Ortega. Sterling had another effort cleared off the line by City substitute John Stones, although an offside flag was raised anyway.

Alvarez thought he had claimed a second with just under 20 minutes remaining but Mahrez controlled the ball with his arm before teeing up the Argentinian.

With it being City’s last home match of the season, star pair Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were given a run-out in the latter stages. Rodri also came off the bench as City closed out their 12th successive Premier League win.

Thousands of fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle, delaying the trophy presentation.

After the celebrations subside, City have further league games at Brighton and Brentford before they play the FA Cup and Champions League finals next month.

Sebastien Haller scored twice as Borussia Dortmund moved to the Bundesliga summit with a crucial 3-0 win over Augsburg.

Julian Brandt was also on target at WWK Arena as Edin Terzic's side leapfrogged Bayern Munich at the top, after the champions were beaten 3-1 by RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Haller opened the scoring just before the hour mark and doubled the lead with six minutes remaining, before Brandt capped the win in stoppage time to secure a two-point advantage.

Victory over Mainz next Saturday would secure a first title in 11 years, while 14th-place Augsburg's top-flight future is uncertain with the Fuggerstadter just two points ahead of 16th-place Bochum heading into the final weekend.

Manchester City celebrated their latest Premier League title triumph with a straightforward 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing side had already been confirmed as champions for a fifth time in six seasons after Arsenal’s loss to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

That meant the Etihad Stadium was in celebratory mood for the visit of the Blues and a much-changed side gave the fans another success to cheer courtesy of an early Julian Alvarez goal.

Chelsea had a few bright moments but City, without getting anywhere near the intensity with which they crushed Real Madrid in midweek, always seemed in control.

Fans had arrived to party in the sunshine and the ‘Poznan’ was seen on more than one occasion.

City were given a guard of honour by their opponents as they entered the field and they went on to knock the ball around with a such a swagger that – perhaps embarrassingly for a Chelsea side that aspires to the heights City have reached – it appeared the Londoners faced a long afternoon.

It seemed only a matter of time before the opening goal came and it arrived after 12 minutes as City seized possession in midfield and Cole Palmer picked out Alvarez in front of goal.

The Argentina World Cup winner took a touch and then emphatically drilled a shot across Kepa Arrizabalaga. It was City’s 100th home goal in all competitions this season.

Chelsea looked well off the pace, much as they have done throughout what has been a dispiriting end to the season under temporary boss Frank Lampard.

Former City forward Raheem Sterling attempted to rouse them. The England international twice got behind the City defence but was unable to pick out a team-mate the first time and then had a shot saved by Stefan Ortega.

Conor Gallagher then went closer when he headed against the post from a Lewis Hall cross.

Yet City always seemed in command and Phil Foden was only narrowly off-target with an attempted chip and Kalvin Phillips, finally making his first league start for the champions, blasted wide.

Phillips was inches away from getting on the scoresheet after the break when he met a Riyad Mahrez free-kick with a firm header but it rebounded off the foot of the post.

At the other end, Hall and Sterling both shot at Ortega. Sterling had another effort cleared off the line by City substitute John Stones, although an offside flag was raised anyway.

Alvarez thought he had claimed a second with just under 20 minutes remaining but Mahrez controlled the ball with his arm before teeing up the Argentinian.

With it being City’s last home match of the season, star pair Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne were given a run-out in the latter stages. Rodri also came off the bench as City closed out their 12th successive Premier League win.

Thousands of fans invaded the pitch after the final whistle, delaying the trophy presentation.

After the celebrations subside, City have further league games at Brighton and Brentford before they play the FA Cup and Champions League finals next month.

Brandon McNulty won stage 15 of the Giro d’Italia while Bruno Armirail retained the Maglia Rosa.

The UAE Team Emirates rider won in thrilling circumstances to secure his first victory at the Giro following a three-man sprint in the final kilometre of the race.

The climax of the the 195-kilometre long Seregno-Bergamo meant McNulty edged out Ben Healy and Marco Frigo, who finished second and third respectively.

McNulty said afterwards: “I’m stoked. This was my goal coming here. I wanted a stage win but I got sick in the time trial.

“I wanted to finish solo but luckily I managed to win, even in a sprint.

“I knew the third guy was coming across. Let’s hope this win adds to the team’s motivation on GC with Joao Almeida.”

Sunday’s result means Geraint Thomas still trails Armirail in the general classification by just one minute and eight seconds.

The French Groupama rider keeps the lead going into Monday’s rest day and admitted it had been a difficult challenge to retain the jersey.

Armirail said: “It’s been difficult to retain the Maglia Rosa.

“It was a hard stage with a lot of climbing and there was Einer Rubio at the front. He was likely to take the jersey so my team-mates had to pace all along.

“Yesterday I didn’t realise what it was to take the Maglia Rosa but today with the incredible support of the crowd I’ve found out what it’s like.

“It’s huge and I’m delighted to stay in the lead on the rest day.”

Atletico Madrid climbed to second in LaLiga following a commanding 3-0 victory over Osasuna at Civitas Metropolitano on Sunday.

Yannick Carrasco, Saul Niguez and Angel Correa were on target as Diego Simeone's side leapfrogged rivals Real Madrid, who play Valencia later on Sunday, with an eighth straight home win.

The hosts broke through a minute before half-time. Saul's throughball released Antoine Griezmann, who claimed his 13th assist of the season by putting the ball on a plate for Carrasco to tuck away his fifth goal in 11 appearances.

Saul doubled the lead in the 62nd minute when he rifled into the top corner, while substitute Correa sealed Atletico's 10th straight victory over Osasuna when he slotted home Rodrigo de Paul's throughball eight minutes from time.

Sam Allardyce insisted he had no regrets about taking the Leeds job despite the Whites looking destined for relegation from the Premier League.

Allardyce’s rescue mission has not gone to plan and goals from Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini saw West Ham come from behind to inflict a damaging 3-1 defeat.

Allardyce arrived at Elland Road as a last-ditch appointment with four games to go, but his first three matches have provided just one point.

Now they need to beat Tottenham next weekend and hope a Bournemouth side with nothing to play for can do them a favour at Everton.

Moreover, should Leicester beat Newcastle on Monday night, the Whites will start the final day second from bottom.

Yet Allardyce, 68, insists he knows where the problems lie and, were he to be given the chance, how to fix them.

The former West Ham boss said: “The challenge is to try to beat Tottenham and deliver a performance. We’ll give ourselves a chance if we win and then see what happens. Our only hope is to win that game.

“If we don’t make it in the end it’s a case of trying to do your best for the club. I can only try my best and give the players the right instructions to show them how win a game of football. Unfortunately for me and for them it hasn’t worked yet.

“It was always going to be a difficult task. Lots of people said I’m mad for taking it. I’m not mad. I just love football and Leeds United was too big a job to turn down for me, however short it was.

“The evidence is all there to know what’s wrong and what to put right. It doesn’t take long to work it out, does it, after 1,100 games as a manager. I sorted this club out, didn’t I? Still here, isn’t it? I’ve sorted a few others out.

“At the end of the season we’ll have that discussion. Hopefully in the Premier League, fingers crossed.”

Leeds need more than crossed fingers to save themselves, even though they took the lead through Rodrigo’s volley.

They lost Patrick Bamford to injury and Rodrigo was also struggling by the end, leaving Allardyce with even more of a headache next weekend.

“The impact of the substitutes wasn’t what I expected, none of them made a difference when we needed them,” he added.

West Ham, safe from relegation and with a Europa Conference League final to look forward to, should have been easy pickings.

But Leeds’ afternoon unravelled when Rice – named Hammer of the year before kick-off, six years to the day since he made his debut against Burnley – marked what is likely to be his last home game for the club with the equaliser.

Boss David Moyes again straight-batted questions about the England midfielder’s likely move away this summer.

“Declan played very well today, but he’s been playing well all season. He scored a really good goal, he’s a very good footballer,” said the Scot.

Bowen was played in by Danny Ings to hit the second and substitute Lanzini was given a tap-in in stoppage time thanks to Lucas Paqueta’s audacious assist.

“It’s a terrific win after the week we’ve had,” added Moyes. “You’re never quite sure after a Thursday game to Sunday, and from the opening 15 minutes I wasn’t sure.

“But they showed great character, and great mentality. It was a really good victory in the end.”

Gala Marceau ran out a convincing winner of the Prix Alain du Breil at Auteuil to give Willie Mullins a third win in the big four-year-old Grade One.

Mullins also ran Zarak The Brave in the race and the betting suggested he was the better fancied of the pair but having been settled in the rear by Paul Townend, he could only run on into third, ultimately beaten a long way.

Gala Marceau was ridden by Danny Mullins, as she has been all season which had already been fruitful.

She beat stablemate Lossiemouth at the Dublin Racing Festival before finishing second to that rival in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and third at Punchestown but with that one staying in Closutton this weekend, she was able to return to winning ways.

Losange Bleu, the favourite, set out to make all but Gala Marceau always looked to be travelling strongly and when she jumped upsides at the last the race was over in a matter of strides as she pulled seven lengths clear.

Mullins has previously won the race with Diakali in 2013 and Footpad three years later.

Ireland’s champion trainer had earlier been out of luck with Franco De Port and Carefully Selected in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris having also drawn a blank on Saturday.

Speaking to Sky Sports Racing Willie Mullins said: “A winner at last!

“We were getting worried but we had no excuses for any of the others, they just weren’t good enough on the day.

“This mare was a revelation. She has been improving all season. I said to Danny just get her settled and get her coming home. Once he got her settled he just kept counting down the furlongs and when she took over the race was over.

“It’s a big improvement for her and a notable scalp too because there was a lot of confidence behind the favourite so we’re very pleased. Zarak The Brave didn’t jump well enough in the first mile, he didn’t have the experience.

“We’ll be back and it’s nice to have one on the board.”

Danny Mullins said: “I’m lucky enough to be a small part of a very big team and to get another Grade One winner on the board is fantastic, this is the last really big weekend of the jumps season.

“The mare has been very good to me this season, she ran very well at Cheltenham and she showed how tough she was today.

“She jumped fantastic down the back which enabled me to save a bit for the home turn and she hit the line very strong, she wasn’t stopping.

“She has won a Grade One in Ireland, ran with a lot of credit at the big festivals and to come here and win, we’re delighted. Next season could be bright for her as well.

“It’s fantastic to win here. For me it’s all about winning the Grade Ones and to do that in Ireland, England, America and now here – I might try a few places further afield now, it’s all about enjoying it.”

The Antarctic held on bravely to give Aidan O’Brien his fifth win in the Goffs Lacken Stakes – getting his ticket stamped for Royal Ascot in the process.

The son of Dark Angel has always carried a huge reputation having commanded 750,000 guineas as a yearling and he is a brother to four-time Group One-winning sprinter Battaash.

He won three times from eight starts as a juvenile, only once finishing outside the first three, but despite being sent off the 13-8 favourite for this Group Three event, had to bounce back from a disappointing return when beaten almost seven lengths by Jessica Harrington’s Ocean Quest at Navan.

Having travelled powerfully throughout in the hands of Ryan Moore, it looked as if The Antarctic had the field covered as he began to lengthen inside the final furlong.

However, on the opposite side of the track his Navan conqueror was also beginning to hit top gear and with some of the chasing pack also finding a second wind in the closing stages, favourite backers would have been sweating as the field flashed past the winning post.

The Antarctic returned a head clear of the 5-2 second favourite Ocean Quest with Ocean Jewel (third), Thunderbear (fourth) and Shartash (fifth) all within touching distance at the finish.

“I’m delighted with him. Obviously, he made good progress from Navan and he just needed that as well,” said O’Brien.

“Navan was tough, soft ground, there wouldn’t have been much of an edge put on him but that will leave a lovely edge on him.

“Ryan was delighted with him, he said he got a little bit lonely and idle in the last half a furlong, but we couldn’t be happier with him.

“He had progressed plenty without us really having to chase him. We thought this race would bring him the rest of the way and if everything stays well we should be able to let him coast into Ascot now.”

The Antarctic was cut 10-1 from 33s by Paddy Power for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, but it is not certain that the grey will line up in the six furlong Group One, with the Jersey Stakes also a possibility depending how stablemate Little Big Bear performs in the Sandy Lane at Haydock next weekend.

O’Brien continued: “We have a choice at Ascot. Little Big Bear is going to run next week over six at Haydock and he would have the option of going to the Jersey over seven if Little Big Bear went to the Commonwealth Cup.

“This horse is going to come forward again, he’s still a little bit tubby but he’s coming. It will depend on where Little Big Bear goes.

“It always looked like he’d get seven. Ryan said today he was surprised that he quickened as much as he did.”