Villarreal thrash Atlético 5-1 to clinch third, only second time in club history | OneFootball

Villarreal thrashed Atlético Madrid 5-1 to seal a historic third-place finish, only the second time the club have ended the season in that position.

Both sides entered the final day level on 69 points, and Atlético’s 2-0 win in the reverse fixture meant Villarreal had to win to take third. El Periódico Mediterráneo highlights the scale of the achievement for the club.

Marcelino García Toral’s team delivered in style, rounding off a campaign that has brought, for the first time in their history, back-to-back Champions League qualifications.

Previously, Villarreal had finished third only once, in 2004/05 under Manuel Pellegrini, a season that secured their first Champions League berth.

Marcelino has now matched that feat, which ranks as a joint second-best league finish in the club’s history.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo