Top 5 Contenders for next season's Champions League Spots from La Liga

#2 - Villarreal

Villarreal, too, are strong contenders

The Yellow Submarine sunk to a new low after losing both opening fixtures to Levante and Real Sociedad without registering a single goal, but a 3-1 victory for Villarreal over Real Betis at the weekend restored hope that the prognosticated, promising season could yet still unfold.

Following the departure of reliable defender Mateo Musacchio to AC Milan at the start of the summer, Villarreal responded positively in the transfer market to bring in the likes of Pablo Fornals, Ruben Semedo and Carlos Bacca on loan among others to add to an already disciplined and sturdy backbone.

Fran Escribá's side has strength through the middle and last season boasted a better backline than both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Roberto Soriano is arguably the focal point to the team's success this campaign, after the 26-year-old Italian scored ten and assisted five in the 2016/17 season and with the likes of Bakambu and Bacca in front of him, Villarreal look as deadly up-top as they are organised at the back.

Their focus will not be on barnstorming victories but on making themselves difficult to beat and it's this resolute attitude which hands them a strong advantage over the rest of the chasing pack.