Villarreal to mark 27th Primera División season in 2026/27, equal Granada and hit 1,000th-game milestone | OneFootball

Villarreal will enter their 27th Primera División season in 2026/27, drawing level with Granada in 20th place on Spain’s all-time participation list, with only 19 clubs ahead.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Iñigo Pérez begins his first pre-season in charge after last term’s third-place finish, and the club are set for a sixth Champions League campaign. The calendar is out, and Villarreal start away to newly promoted Racing Santander, with kick-off to be confirmed.

Villarreal debuted in the top flight on 31 August 1998 at the Santiago Bernabéu against Real Madrid. Since then they have spent only two seasons outside, 1999/2000 after their first relegation, and the campaign following their 2012 drop, when they returned immediately.

Within the Comunitat Valenciana, Villarreal now rank second for seasons in Primera, behind Valencia on 92. They move ahead of Elche on 26, Hércules on 20, Levante on 18, Castellón on 11 and Alcoyano on four.

Counting 2026/27, the all-time list is led by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Club on 96, followed by Valencia on 92. Atlético de Madrid and Espanyol reach 90, with Sevilla on 83 and Real Sociedad on 80.

This season will also bring a landmark. Villarreal finished 2025/26 on 988 Primera División matches, so matchday 12 at the Estadio de la Cerámica against Getafe will be their 1,000th, with the time still to be set.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo