History [ edit ]
2005β06 UEFA Champions League [ edit ]
The 2005β06 season brought the club considerable European success and recognition, π΅ due to their consistent performances in the Champions League. In the qualifying round stage, Villarreal controversially defeated English side Everton π΅ with a 4β2 aggregate score with two 2β1 victories. In the group stage, Villarreal were to be in the same π΅ group as Portuguese champions Benfica, French club Lille, and England's Manchester United. Remaining undefeated throughout the group stage, Villarreal were π΅ twice victorious (1β0 each against Benfica away and Lille at home) and earned four draws, including two scoreless draws with π΅ Manchester United. They topped their group and progressed to the knock-out stages along with Benfica. The club progressed to the π΅ quarter-finals in their Champions League debut by defeating the Scottish club Rangers 3β3 on the away goals rule (a 2β2 π΅ draw in Glasgow and a 1β1 draw at home gave the Spanish side one more away goal than their opponents).
El π΅ Submarino Amarillo drew Italian giants Inter Milan in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The first leg was played at π΅ the San Siro on 29 March 2006, where Villarreal's Diego ForlΓ‘n scored inside the first minute of the match, but π΅ Villarreal lost 2β1 as Inter took a lead to the return leg at El Madrigal on 4 April. Villarreal, however, π΅ continued their unbeaten home record in the Champions League after winning the second leg 1β0 to qualify for the semi-finals π΅ on the away goals rule (the tie ended 2β2 on aggregate, but because of ForlΓ‘n's goal in Milan, Villarreal advanced). π΅ During that game, left-back Rodolfo Arruabarrena turned a back header from Juan RomΓ‘n Riquelme free kick past Inter goalkeeper Francesco π΅ Toldo to score the decisive goal of the tie. In the semi-finals, Villarreal narrowly lost out to Arsenal on a π΅ 1β0 aggregate scoreline following Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's save of Riquelme's last-minute penalty.
2008β09 Champions League [ edit ]