As the 2024/25 La Liga season nears its end, Villarreal played spoiler at Camp Nou, stunning newly-crowned champions Barcelona with a dramatic 3-2 away win. The victory silenced the celebrations momentarily and secured Villarreal the fifth and final Spanish ticket to next season’s UEFA Champions League.
Yellow Submarine Derail Barça’s Home Finale
Having already sealed the league title, Barcelona welcomed Villarreal for their final home game of the season. The Catalans had hoped to give fans a festive send-off before lifting their 28th La Liga trophy, but Villarreal had other plans.
Just four minutes in, Ayoze Pérez fired Villarreal into the lead, stunning the Camp Nou crowd. Barça responded with intent: 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal levelled the match with a spectacular curling strike from outside the box in the 38th minute. Fermín López added another deep into first-half stoppage time to make it 2-1.
But Villarreal came out swinging in the second half. Santi Comesaña broke the offside trap and slotted in the equaliser in the 50th minute. Then, in the 80th minute, Tajon Buchanan was left unmarked at the far post and tapped in the winner to seal a memorable 3-2 triumph for the Yellow Submarine.
With this crucial win, Villarreal climbed to 67 points, pulling well clear of sixth-place Real Betis (59 points), and secured a top-five finish, locking in their Champions League qualification.
Spain’s Five Champions League Representatives Confirmed
With Villarreal joining the elite, Spain’s five Champions League teams for next season are now confirmed:
- Barcelona
- Real Madrid
- Atlético Madrid
- Athletic Club
- Villarreal
Meanwhile, Real Betis were thrashed 4-1 by Atlético Madrid in their own away fixture and will now settle for a Europa League spot next season. Atlético’s “Spider” Julián Álvarez stole the show with two goals and an assist, while Riquelme and Correa added their names to the scoresheet.
Only two European slots remain undecided for the Europa League and one for the Conference League. The final round will see a thrilling three-way showdown between Celta Vigo (52 points), Rayo Vallecano, and Osasuna (both with 51 points), all gunning for those coveted places.
Barça Celebrate Despite the Setback
Despite the defeat, Barcelona had plenty to celebrate. Though their 17-match unbeaten run ended, they officially lifted their 28th La Liga title in front of a roaring home crowd. Midfielder Fermín López summed up the mood post-match:
“Villarreal played well today, but we’re still the champions.”
Two teams are still fighting to avoid joining already-relegated Las Palmas and Valladolid. Espanyol (39 points) and Leganés (37 points) must win their final matches for any hope of survival. Both clubs will host already-relegated sides, giving them one last shot to escape the drop.
Real Madrid wrapped up a clinical 2-0 away win against a nine-man Sevilla. Goals from Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham ensured a comfortable victory for Los Blancos, who will finish the season as runners-up. While they missed out on retaining the league title, Madrid can still count the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup among their season’s silverware.
