Arsenal became the first team in 115 years to stay unbeaten in the English top flight, Olympique Lyon wrapped up their third French Ligue 1 title in succession and David Beckham was sent off as Real Madrid lost at the weekend.

Arsenal's unbeaten season matched the achievement of Preston North End, known as the Invincibles, in 1888/9. Preston played 22 matches while Arsenal -- two world wars and five monarchs later -- have played 38 in the English premier league, winning 26.

The champions beat relegated Leicester City 2-1 at Highbury where they paraded the premier league crown they had clinched at the home of rivals Tottenham Hotspur in April. On Sunday they took the trophy through the streets on an open-top bus.

"People will remember that the season 2003-04 we were unbeatable," said Arsenal's France striker Thierry Henry, who finished as the premier league's top scorer with 30 goals.

Liverpool sealed fourth place with a 1-1 draw at Anfield against Newcastle United, who pipped Aston Villa to fifth place and a UEFA Cup slot on goal difference.

Outgoing champions Manchester United, who beat Villa 2-0, finished third and will join Liverpool in the final qualifying round for next season's Champions League.

Lyon secured the French title despite Saturday's 1-0 loss at Paris St Germain as Monaco slumped to a 4-1 home defeat to Stade Rennes. Lyon are only the third club after St Etienne and Olympique Marseille to clinch three French crowns in a row.

With one game left PSG are in second place a point ahead of Monaco in the battle for direct Champions League qualification. The principality side play in the competition's final against Porto on May 26 in Gelsenkirchen.

WOEFUL END

Real Madrid's woeful end to the season continued as they went down 2-1 at already relegated Murcia -- their fourth straight defeat and the worst run in their history.

To make matters worse they had midfielder David Beckham sent off in the first half for abusing a linesman and he will miss the final game of the season at home to Real Sociedad.

Barcelona's 1-0 win against Racing Santander means the Catalans move above Real Madrid into second place behind champions Valencia and they are now favourites to claim the second automatic Champions League spot.

Espanyol missed a chance to ensure their survival as they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 at Real Mallorca.

Sunday's result means Celta Vigo and Valladolid, who both lost on Saturday, can avoid the drop if results go their way in the final matches next week.

In Italy, Inter Milan claimed a Champions League place, while Parma had to settle for fifth and a UEFA Cup spot where they join Lazio and Udinese as the country's representatives.

Juventus, whose coach Marcello Lippi bowed out with a 3-1 win at Siena, enter the final Champions League qualifying round, along with Inter, while second-placed Roma and 'scudetto' winners Milan go straight into the group stage.

Inter's 3-2 win at Empoli, with two goals from Brazilian Adriano, sent Empoli down into Serie B along with Modena, who lost 2-1 to Lazio.

More than 70,000 fans held a party in Bremen on Sunday to celebrate local team Werder's fourth Bundesliga title.

The silver dish was handed to them by Germany coach Rudi Voeller after Saturday's 6-2 home defeat by Bayer Leverkusen which keeps their Champions League hopes alive.

Werder sealed the title the week before with a 3-1 win at outgoing champions Bayern Munich and had one eye on chasing their first domestic double against second division Alemannia Aachen in the German Cup final on May 29 in Berlin.

VfB Stuttgart beat Bayern 3-1 on Saturday to keep alive their hopes of pipping them for second place and a direct Champions League qualifying spot. Stuttgart trail by a point.

Arminia Bielefeld won promotion to the Bundesliga with a 0-0 draw at VfL Osnabrueck on Sunday.