LaLiga: Villarreal Thrash Levante to Clinch Champions League Spot

Yellow Submarine hit six straight home wins with Levante rout

Georges Mikautadze scored twice as Villarreal extended their home winning run to six games in LaLiga.

Alberto Moleiro, Tajon Buchanan, and Nicolas Pepe were also on target in Villarreal’s dominant win...

  

Villarreal booked their spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League with a dominant 5-1 win over Levante at Estadio de la Ceramica. The result also marked their sixth consecutive home victory in LaLiga.  

Knowing a win would lock up a top-four finish, the Yellow Submarine came out flying and created two clear chances within the first 15 minutes.

 

Santi Comesana went close first, smashing a half-volley from just outside the area off the crossbar. Minutes later, Georges Mikautadze latched onto a corner routine inside the box but dragged his shot narrowly over.  

The Georgian forward came even closer next, taking the ball down brilliantly and firing first time, only for it to bounce inches wide of the left post.  

💛 No es un submarino, es un HURACÁN.@VillarrealCF | #DesenlaceLALIGA pic.twitter.com/1MjEsRqimH

— LALIGA (@LaLiga) May 2, 2026

 

Mikautadze finally got his goal shortly after, pressing Matias Moreno into a mistake on a loose ball. The Levante defender mis-hit his clearance, and Mikautadze calmly slotted past Mathew Ryan.

Levante started the second half with more intent and drew level 5 minutes after the restart. A tidy spell of possession ended with Pablo Martínez whipping in a perfect cross for Carlos Espi to head home.  

Villarreal regrouped and retook the lead just after the hour mark. Alberto Moleiro surged down the left, cut inside, and curled a brilliant strike into the bottom right corner.  

With the lead back, the hosts hit their stride and played flowing attacking football. Nicolás Pépé broke down the right and squared unselfishly for Georges Mikautadze to tap in his 11th league goal of the season.  

Pépé turned provider again in the 87th minute, switching play to Tajon Buchanan. The Canadian took it down and rifled a 25-yard strike into the top corner.  

WE'RE A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TEAM ONCE MORE! 💛#VillarrealLevanteUD pic.twitter.com/2dUx1QneJ7

— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) May 2, 2026

Levante fell apart late, and Pépé sealed it in the 90th minute after winning the ball high and finishing emphatically to cap off a dominant afternoon for the Yellow Submarine.

Villarreal’s celebration over clinching a top-four finish could get even better, with third place now in sight. That would mark their highest LaLiga finish since 2007/08.  

It’s a different story for Levante, who look set to end the weekend in the bottom three. They’re 3 points adrift of safety, and the teams above them still have their gameweek matches to play.