Marcelino’s Villarreal chase records beyond sealing Champions League place | OneFootball

Villarreal are poised to clinch Champions League qualification on Saturday 2 May 2026 at 14.00. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, they would do so for a second straight season, the first time in their history, with four matches to spare, unless Levante win and they then need Real Betis to drop points against Real Oviedo at La Cartuja on Sunday.

Even with qualification arriving early again, the team and Marcelino García will look to round off the campaign with several historic marks.

The headline target is a club points record. Winning four of the five league games left and drawing the other, or winning all five, would take them beyond the 77 achieved in 2007/2008 under Manuel Pellegrini. They currently have 65, so need at least 13.

They are also contesting third place, holding a five-point cushion over Atlético Madrid. After hosting Levante, the run-in reads Mallorca at Son Moix, Sevilla at La Cerámica, Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas and Atlético at home.

Marcelino could also deliver the best league return of his career. Nine more points would surpass his benchmark of 63 with Valencia in 2017/2018, when his side recorded 22 wins, seven draws and nine defeats, with 65 scored and 38 conceded.

He made his top-flight debut in 2006 with Recreativo de Huelva and has since managed Racing Santander, Zaragoza, Sevilla and Athletic Club, as well as Valencia and Villarreal.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo