Karim Benzema Scores With Final Touch Of La Liga Career As Real Madrid Finish Season In Second Place

Karim Benzema ended his Real Madrid career by scoring from the penalty spot in a 1-1 draw against Atletico Bilbao at the Bernabeu on Sunday.

Benzema found the net in the 72nd minute and celebrated by blowing kisses to the crowd.

The 35-year-old was substituted off before the game restarted, meaning that he scored with his last ever touch for Real.

It was announced earlier on Sunday that Benzema will be leaving Real this summer after 14 seasons at the club. He is expected to move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

Sunday's goal was Benzema's 354th for Real and came in his 648th game.

Real were fortunate to escape with a draw on Sunday, having been second best for much of the match.

Oihan Sancet gave Bilbao a deserved lead in the 49th minute, after Real keeper Thibaut Courtois had saved a Mikel Vesga penalty in the first half.

Karim Benzema pictured shortly after scoring a goal for Real Madrid in his final game for the club

IMAGO/Cordon/Press LOF

Real's draw opened the door for city rivals Atletico to leapfrog them in the table.

A win away at Villarreal would have sealed second place for Atletico but Diego Simeone's side were denied by a stoppage-time equalizer.

Two goals from Angel Correa had put Atletico 2-1 up following Nicolas Jackson's early opener.

But Atletico, who lost Axel Witsel to a straight red card midway through the second half, conceded a 92nd-minute leveler to substitute Jorge Pascual.

That saw the game end 2-2 and left Atletico third in La Liga, one point behind Real.

Meanwhile, Bilbao finished eighth and missed out on a place in next season's UEFA Europa Conference League, which was instead claimed by Osasuna.