The 2005–06 season brought the club considerable European success and recognition, due to their consistent performances in the Champions League. 🌈 In the qualifying round stage, Villarreal controversially defeated English side Everton with a 4–2 aggregate score with two 2–1 victories. 🌈 In the group stage, Villarreal were to be in the same group as Portuguese champions Benfica, French club Lille, and 🌈 England's Manchester United. Remaining undefeated throughout the group stage, Villarreal were twice victorious (1–0 each against Benfica away and Lille 🌈 at home) and earned four draws, including two scoreless draws with Manchester United. They topped their group and progressed to 🌈 the knock-out stages along with Benfica. The club progressed to the quarter-finals in their Champions League debut by defeating the 🌈 Scottish club Rangers 3–3 on the away goals rule (a 2–2 draw in Glasgow and a 1–1 draw at home 🌈 gave the Spanish side one more away goal than their opponents).
2009–10 Europa League [ edit ]
For the 2009–10 season, Villarreal 🌈 competed in the Europa League, defeating NAC Breda of the Netherlands by a 2–9 aggregate victory in a qualifier. They 🌈 shared Group G with Levski Sofia, who they defeated 1–0 in the opening game, and with Lazio and Red Bull 🌈 Salzburg. They came second in that group, behind Red Bull. Consequently, Villarreal was drawn against VfL Wolfsburg (who had dropped 🌈 out of the Champions League) in the round of 32. Playing at home first, Villarreal secured a 2–2 draw, but 🌈 in the return leg at Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena, Villarreal would succumb to defeat by a 4–1 scoreline.
On 14 September 2024, 🌈 Villarreal played their first UEFA Champions League match in the group stage since 2011, a 2–2 draw to Atalanta. With 🌈 three wins, one draw and two defeats, they managed to finish second of their group and qualify to the round 🌈 of 16. In the knockout phase, Villarreal played Juventus in the round of 16, and knocked them out after drawing 🌈 1–1 at home before winning 3–0 away. Villarreal then played Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, and knocked them out as 🌈 well after winning 1–0 at home and drawing 1–1 away, reaching their best record in the competition, the semi-finals, as 🌈 they did in the 2005–06 season. Unfortunately for Villarreal, their fairytale ended at this stage of the competition, by losing 🌈 5–2 on aggregate to Liverpool.
Overall record [ edit ]