VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) " Villarreal coach Marcelino has left the Spanish club days before it hosts a Champions League playoff first-leg match against Monaco. A fourth-place finish last season earned a place in the Champions League playoff round. Marcelino brought success to Villarreal after being hired in 2013 when the former Champions League semifinalist was in the second tier. Villarreal starts the Spanish league season at Granada on Aug. 20. Villarreal won promotion to La Liga and had three straight top-six finishes, and reached the Europa League semifinals last season.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 11, 2016 08:48 UTC