VILA REAL: Villarreal claimed third place in La Liga with an emphatic 5-1 win over Atletico Madrid, who finished fourth, in the final match of the Spanish season.

It was Marcelino Garcia Toral’s last in charge of the Yellow Submarine, and he guided them to a comfortable victory against an uninterested Atletico side.

Finishing third is Villarreal’s highest placement in La Liga for 13 years.

Villarreal captain Dani Parejo opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 29th minute in what was also his final match for the club.

It sparked a burst of several goals before half-time, with Ayoze Perez firing home three minutes later.

Georges Mikautadze tucked away the third after Perez found him after holding the ball up on a break, with Clement Lenglet lead-footed and unable to stop the Georgian forward.

Marc Pubill pulled one back with a header from Antoine Griezmann’s corner, on the French forward’s final Atletico appearance before his switch to MLS side Orlando City.

It proved brief respite for Atletico, as Pape Gueye smashed into the top corner from outside the area for Villarreal’s fourth before the break.

Perez smashed home for Villarreal early in the second half as the Yellow Submarine kept the goals flowing.

Parejo, who joined the club in 2020, bid an emotional goodbye to the home fans as he was substituted.

“It’s been six marvellous years of my life,” Parejo told Movistar. “I am proud, happy with my work, I gave everything to this club.”

It was Atletico coach Diego Simeone’s 800th match at the helm since he took over in 2011, but not one he will remember fondly.

Atletico, who lost in the Copa del Rey final and the Champions League semi-finals, end the season empty-handed.

“This can’t happen to us, we have to repair it next season, we can’t let in that many goals,” said Atletico skipper Koke. “We’ve got a bitter taste left in the mouth... (cup disappointments) and a disaster in La Liga, we have to be higher up.”

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2026