Despite Villarreal's win over Real Mallorca, the visitors will play in the Europa League next season and not the Champions League.
Ruben Cani fired his side in front in the 28th minute but Aritz Aduriz equalised for Mallorca seven minutes later.
A Joseba Llorente brace either side of half-time ensured Villarreal took the points before Pierre Webo grabbed a last-gasp consolation.
The result has no impact on the standings however as Atletico Madrid beat Almeria to clinch the last Champions League berth.
Mallorca had little to play for but pride but put on a good performance in their final game of the campaign to end the season in ninth.
It could have been the last game in charge of their respective teams for both coaches with Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini being linked to the Real Madrid job and his Mallorca counterpart Gregorio Manzano reportedly being lined up to replace him at the Yellow Submarine.
With Villarreal knowing they had to win to have any chance of qualifying for the Champions League it was no surprise the visitors started the brighter.
They thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute but Joan Capdevila's effort hit Sebastian Eguren, who was in an offside position, on the way in and was disallowed.
Fully aware that Atletico had gone in front, Villarreal desperately searched for the opener and Capdevila put a great cross into the box in the 25th minute but no one could get on the end of it.
They only had to wait three more minutes to take the lead when Cani latched onto a pass from Llorente and fired it into the bottom left corner.
But they were pegged back in the 35th minute when a pass from former Atletico midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado sent Aduriz clean through on goal and the striker easily beat Diego Lopez.
Villarreal could have restored their advantage seconds later when Ivan Ramis fouled Giuseppe Rossi in the area but Mallorca goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya pulled off a great stop to deny the Italy striker.
However, the visitors did take the lead again shortly after as Llorente raced onto a long ball from Cani and, finding himself one on one with Moya, lobbed the Mallorca keeper.
Once again Mallorca almost equalised shortly afterwards but Lopez made a good save to deny Aduriz.
The hosts had the ball in the net three minutes from the break but Juan Arango's free-kick was ruled out for offside.
Mallorca closed the half strongly and Arango would have levelled but for a stunning save from Lopez.
They also had a good shout for a penalty turned down when Villarreal defender Diego Godin looked to have handled Fernando Varela's cross.
Mallorca started the second half much like they had ended the first and Lopez again came to his team's rescue as he did brilliantly to keep out Varela's fierce effort from outside the area.
Their hard work came to nothing as clever play from Cani on the left flank set up Llorente for the simplest of tap-ins in the 52nd minute.
Varela should have equalised two minutes later but his volley hit the post with Lopez beaten, while Webo also crashed an effort off the upright 12 minutes from time.
The Cameroon striker scored a late consolation for his side when he turned in a great pass from Jurado.
However, it was too late for Mallorca to find the equaliser their performance deserved.
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