Manuel Pellegrini’s side, who qualified automatically for the competition by virtue of a fifth place finish in the Spanish League easily saw off the challenge of FC Bate Borisov from Belarus in the first round, winning both legs (4-1 at home and 0-2 away).

Unbeaten leaders of Group C

This saw the Yellows drawn in Group C with ACF Fiorentina, AEK Athens, IF Elfsborg and FK Mladá Boleslav. In the most difficult match of the phase, Villarreal opened against Fiorentina securing a draw thanks to an 86^th minute free kick from Capdevila. The next three matches, however, showed a marked improvement with three victories.

First victim was the Czech side, FK Mladá Boleslav beaten at home 1-2 by a Villarreal side that justified its tag as favourites with a dominant display for most of the game. Nihat put the Yellows in front before Santi Cazorla increased the lead and and had opportunities to go further in front before the home side pulled a goal back in the time added on at the end of the game.

The Madrigal was witness to Villarreal’s second victory in the group phase with a 2-0 victory over IF Elfsborg. Danish striker, Jon Dahl Tomasson scored both goals in a comfortable win and could have scored a hat-trick had visiting goalkeeper Wiland not saved his penalty.

In the struggle to secure top spot in the group, Villarreal then faced what on paper looked to be the most difficult tie of the stage turning on a superb performance to defeat AEK 1-2 in Athens’ Olympic Stadium to finish in first place. Mavuba put the visitors ahead, and although Rivaldo brought the home side level with a spectacular strike, it was Tomasson who secured victory again after rounding AEK keeper Macho.

Eventual winners Zenit end the Yellows dream

Group victory earned Villarreal a match against one of the third placed qualifiers from another group as well as making them many people’s pick for the trophy. The draw brought Zenit along as next opponents and in an unfortunate and very similar two-legged affair, the Russian side ended the Yellows’ trophy dreams.

In the first leg played in sub zero temperatures on a frozen pitch in San Petersburg, the home side scored the only goal of the game when Pogrebnyak made the most of a poor clearance from Diego López in the Villarreal goal.