Barcelona 2-2 Deportivo La Coruna

Barcelona captain Xavi will join Qatari side Al Sadd at the end of the season

Barcelona captain Xavi left the pitch to a standing ovation as his final La Liga game ended in a draw against Deportivo de La Coruna.

The 35-year-old midfielder, who has spent 24 years with the club, was withdrawn with five minutes left and saluted by the whole of the Nou Camp.

Lionel Messi's brace had put Barca 2-0 up before Deportivo fought back.

Lucas and Diogo Salomao earned a point for Deportivo who escaped relegation on head-to-head record with Eibar.

Eibar beat already relegated Cordoba but joined them in slipping into the Segunda Division.

Almeria were also relegated after losing to Valencia, who sealed a fourth Champions League spot behind third-placed Atletico Madrid.

At the Nou Camp, Barcelona's players wore special shirts to honour Xavi after he announced he will leave the Spanish champions at the end of the season to join Qatari side Al Sadd.

His final bow at the Nou Camp is expected to come in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao next weekend while his last appearance in a Barcelona shirt is likely to be the Champions League final against Juventus in Berlin on 6 June.

"I am the happiest man in the world today and for the 17 seasons I have been here," Xavi told the crowd after fighting back tears.

"As the coach [Luis Enrique] has said this hasn't finished. We want two more titles and we want to be here with you all again in Barcelona on 7 June."

With the La Liga title already sewn up and both those two matches in mind, Enrique made nine changes to his starting line-up.

Xavi joined Barcelona aged 11

That meant ex-Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen featured for the first time since he joined last summer, having endured a difficult spell out through injury.

Barca took the lead in the fifth minute when Deportivo goalkeeper Fabricio parried the ball clear to Brazil midfielder Rafinha, who crossed for Messi at the back post and the Argentine headed in from close range.

The hosts had the ball in the net again before the break when Messi got on the end of the a sublime lofted pass from Neymar only for the referee to disallow it.

However, the same combination saw Barca increase their advantage with a clinical counter attack just before the hour mark.

The visitors pulled a goal back through winger Lucas, who curled the ball past goalkeeper Jordi Masip from the edge of the area.

And the Nou Camp was left stunned with 14 minutes left as Salomao equalised when he poked home after Haris Medunjanin's initial free-kick had been blocked by the Barcelona wall.

It did not really take the gloss off the day for Xavi, who lifted his eighth La Liga trophy for the Catalans after the full-time whistle.

Barcelona's players wore special shirts thanking Xavi for his contribution at the Nou Camp

Supporters at the Nou Camp saluted Xavi with a giant flag

Xavi was given a standing ovation by Barcelona supporters when he was taken off with five minutes left

Xavi lifted his eighth La Liga trophy in his final league match