Villarreal defeated Levante 5-1 on May 2 to clinch a spot in the Champions League with four weeks remaining in the La Liga season [1]. The win assured Villarreal a third-place finish in the league, five points ahead of Atlético Madrid and 15 points clear of Real Betis [1]. This marks the first time Villarreal has qualified for the Champions League in consecutive seasons [1].
Despite Villarreal’s early exit from the current Champions League campaign, where they earned only 1 point in 8 games and were eliminated by December 2025, the team's domestic performance strengthened under Marcelino García Toral [1]. Marcelino said, "We’re going into the Champions League through the front door, brilliantly. We’ve met a big challenge. To have qualified with four weeks to spare is extraordinary, it’s not usual" [1].
Shortly after securing qualification, Marcelino officially departed Villarreal, ending his tenure as head coach [1]. Reports have indicated that Rayo Vallecano coach Iñigo Pérez is expected to replace Marcelino, though no formal confirmation has been announced yet [1].
Villarreal’s success in La Liga capped a season of domestic resilience following a poor European run. The club will now focus on preparing for next season’s Champions League campaign under new leadership.
The team and its supporters celebrated the achievement with the message, "We are a Champions League team (again)" displayed prominently on the scoreboard after the Levante match [1].
