Villarreal clinch historic back-to-back Champions League place after 5-1 Levante win | OneFootball

Villarreal have qualified for the 2026/27 Champions League, achieving back-to-back appearances for the first time in their history.

They needed only a point, but beat Levante 5-1 at the Estadio de la Cerámica with four matches remaining. Goals came from Georges Mikautadze, twice, Alberto Moleiro, Tajon Buchanan and Nico Pepe. El Periódico Mediterráneo notes the achievement crowns an excellent 2025/26 league campaign.

It will be Villarreal’s sixth involvement in the competition proper, after 2005/06, 2008/09, 2011/12, 2021/22 and 2025/26.

Previous forays brought semi-finals in 2005/06 and again in 2021/22, when they lost to Liverpool. They also reached the quarter-finals in 2008/09 and went out in the 2011/12 groups before relegation. The 2025/26 European campaign proved difficult, yielding one point and seven defeats.

Consistency in LaLiga has been the difference, with the side maintaining their level across the season and finishing third, three points ahead of Atlético.

Alongside Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético, only Valencia, Deportivo and Sevilla have managed consecutive Champions League entries among Spanish clubs.

Marcelino García Toral oversaw the qualification in his second spell, then the parties separated once it was secured. He was honoured on the final matchday against Atlético at La Cerámica.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo