He left as he arrived, and as he had spent the last two-and-a-half years: with dignity.

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has been ruled out of Wales' crucial World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland with a calf strain.

It was late, it was hot and everyone was exhausted, but Real Madrid had won and that was all that mattered. The how was irrelevant, for now at least.

Barcelona can retain its title, making it eight in 12 years and 24 in club history, with a victory at Granada.