After finishing in the top four, Villarreal won the right to start dreaming about their
first adventure in the Champions 8️⃣ League in 2005/06, the most important club competition
on the planet. And the Submarine went on a journey that caused 8️⃣ a stir in Europe and
throughout the world: easily beating English side Everton in their Qualifying play-off
match, then leading 8️⃣ their group in the Group stages and passing the hurdles one by one
until, with what was very bad luck, 8️⃣ they were stopped in the Semi-finals by an Arsenal
side who were made to suffer to the end to get 8️⃣ to the Final of the competition. The
Yellows made their debut in the world’s biggest competition in style, against no 8️⃣ less
than Manchester United on 14th September 2005. It was a very even game that finished in
a 0-0 draw 8️⃣ and the Submarine made their intentions clear.
Villarreal’s first victory in
the Champions League came on Match Day 4 in the 8️⃣ Group stages, with the Submarine
playing in Group D. The Yellows visited the Da Luz stadium and beat Benfica 0-1, 8️⃣ with a
wonder goal by Marcos Senna from about 25 yards out. A key result to finish the initial
phase 8️⃣ in first place with 10 points, two games won and four drawn. Villarreal were
already among the 16 best teams 8️⃣ in Europe in their first time participating in the
Champions League. A success that wouldn’t finish there – and far 8️⃣ from it.
The Yellows
went up against Glasgow Rangers in the Round of 16. The Scottish side, one of Europe’s
classics, 8️⃣ hosted the Submarine on 22nd February 2006. Riquelme, from the penalty spot,
and Diego Forlán were the goal scorers for 8️⃣ the Yellows, who went away with a valuable
2-2 draw. The second leg at El Madrigal finished in a 1-1 8️⃣ draw, enough to take the
Submarine through to the Quarter-finals. Arruabarrena, with his goal, was already
beginning to establish himself 8️⃣ as the team’s hero in the Champions League. Inter Milan,
one of the strongest teams in Europe, waited for Villarreal 8️⃣ in the Quarter-finals. The
Submarine showed their quality again and weren’t discouraged at the Giussepe Meazza
stadium after a creditable 8️⃣ 2-1 loss, with a goal from Forlán in the opening minutes of
the first leg.
Tuesday 4th April was the day 8️⃣ that one of the most legendary matches in
Villarreal’s recent history was played at El Madrigal. Inter visited the home 8️⃣ of the
Yellows with a small advantage on aggregate, but the Basque native Arruabarrena wiped
that away with a well 8️⃣ placed header in the 58th minute. It was a magical night in El
Madrigal as the team qualified for the 8️⃣ Semi-finals.
Arsenal were all that stood in the
way of the Submarine on the road to the grand Final. Villarreal came 8️⃣ up just short at
Highbury, thus resting all their hopes on the second leg at El Madrigal. After an
exciting 8️⃣ match which Villarreal deserved to get more out of, missing a penalty in the
last few minutes, the Submarine were 8️⃣ knocked out of the competition.
