Villarreal smash Levante to seal Champions League qualification in style

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/villarreal/lUatW5jE/"]Villarreal[/a] knew a win would sew up their place in the top four, and the Yellow Submarine got off to a fast start, producing two brilliant opportunities inside the opening quarter-hour.[/p][p]Firstly, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/comesana-santi/KK4TPIBj/"]Santi Comesana[/a] struck on the half-volley from just outside the box, but the ball clattered the crossbar, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mikautadze-georges/QgN9t9CH/"]Georges Mikautadze[/a] ran onto the ball just inside the 18-yard box from a corner routine, only to fire narrowly over the crossbar. [/p][p]The influential Georgian had another effort go agonisingly close, as he showed brilliant control of the ball before his first-time shot bounced inches wide of the left post.[/p][p][b]But he was finally celebrating minutes later, when he showed intent to pursue a loose ball and applied the pressure on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moreno-matias/2umQcqSu/"]Matias Moreno[/a] at the back for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/levante/G8FL0ShI/"]Levante[/a]. That resulted in the centre-back mishitting the ball, allowing Mikautadze to apply a clinical finish past Mathew Ryan.[/b][/p][embed guid="4b22da83-520e-48c1-a4ed-3e2e25c34a95" url="https://x.com/LaLiga/status/2050559599816679814" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]Despite their situation, Levante came out with renewed energy following the restart and levelled just five minutes into the second half, when a neat spell of possession culminated with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-pablo/UqPEcOA0/"]Pablo Martinez[/a] whipping an inch-perfect cross into the box for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/espi-carlos/WURwLTen/"]Carlos Espi[/a] to head home. [/b][/p][p]Marcelino’s men composed themselves, though, and were back in front just after the hour mark, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/moleiro-alberto/b5g6gWjn/"]Alberto Moleiro[/a] went flying down the left flank and cut inside, before curling a stunning finish into the bottom-right corner. [/p][p][b]The hosts played excellent free-flowing football once their lead was restored and it was further increased after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pepe-nicolas/j3Hk0qEj/"]Nicolas Pepe[/a] broke down the right wing and unselfishly squared for Mikautadze to slot in his 11th league goal of the season. [/b][/p][p]With the wind in his sails, the Ivorian notched another assist in the 87th minute after his cross-field pass to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/buchanan-tajon/G62SXlFI/"]Tajon Buchanan[/a] ended with the Canadian producing a stunning strike into the top corner from 25 yards out.[/p][p][b]Levante collapsed and Pepe finally notched in the 90th minute after dispossessing the opposition defence again, before his emphatic finish capped off a fine afternoon for the Yellow Submarine. [/b][/p][embed guid="e043da8c-d06e-4507-8d82-973831de899d" url="https://x.com/LaLiga/status/2050575536271880495" social-type="twitter" /][p]Villarreal’s joy at sealing a top-four spot could now be further boosted by a third-place finish – their highest in the Spanish top-flight since 2007/08.[/p][p]That stands in stark contrast to Levante’s prospects, as they will end the weekend in the bottom three – a significant three points from safety, with the teams around them yet to play this gameweek.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pepe-nicolas/j3Hk0qEj/"]Nicolas Pepe[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/villarreal/lUatW5jE/"]Villarreal[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/levante-G8FL0ShI/villarreal-lUatW5jE/?mid=SGaHyM4m"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="ad144b7f-ee5f-4fed-9c7e-12be9200a8aa" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="7703293a-f9be-4a74-aef6-046c7a63a11c" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /]