Villarreal booked their spot in next season’s Champions League after edging newly-crowned La Liga champions Barcelona 3-2 in a thrilling contest at the Olympic Stadium on Sunday.
Despite having already wrapped up their 28th league title, Barcelona fielded a strong team, with coach Hansi Flick emphasizing that celebration must not replace effort. The hosts were lively, but Villarreal capitalized on their chances.
Ayoze Perez opened the scoring for the visitors, finishing off a smart pass from Nicolas Pepe. Rising star Lamine Yamal equalized with a brilliant solo effort, gliding past defenders before curling into the far corner.
Fermin Lopez gave Barca the lead with a thunderous strike from the edge of the area, but Villarreal bounced back. Santi Comesana beat Ter Stegen with a lob to level again, before Tajon Buchanan struck the winner in the 80th minute.
Despite the defeat—Barca’s first home and league loss in 2025—fans cheered their team, chanting “champions” as they were presented with the La Liga trophy in what may be their final game at the Olympic Stadium ahead of a return to Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, Villarreal’s win widened the gap on sixth-placed Real Betis, who were crushed 4-1 by Atletico Madrid. Julian Alvarez starred for Diego Simeone’s men, scoring twice and assisting another as Atletico strengthened their third-place position.
**Mbappe Strikes as Real Madrid Down Nine-Man Sevilla**
Kylian Mbappe continued his stellar form, netting his 29th league goal in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Sevilla. The hosts played most of the match with nine men after Loic Bade saw red early for a foul on Mbappe, followed by Isaac Romero’s dismissal for a reckless challenge on Tchouameni.
Mbappe broke the deadlock with a long-range drive before Jude Bellingham sealed the win late on in what was Carlo Ancelotti’s penultimate match in charge.
**Leganes Keep Survival Hopes Alive**
At the other end of the table, Leganes defeated already-relegated Las Palmas 1-0 thanks to an early goal from Dani Raba. They now sit 18th, two points from safety, and must win their final match against relegated Real Valladolid to stand a chance.
Espanyol’s 2-0 loss to Osasuna left them precariously in 17th place. A win in their last fixture against Las Palmas will ensure survival, while anything less could open the door for Leganes.
What you should know
Villarreal’s remarkable victory over Barcelona not only ended the champions’ unbeaten home run in 2025 but also secured their return to the Champions League.
At the bottom, Leganes’ late-season push sets up a tense final day in the relegation battle.
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