For the second time in history, Villarreal is in the semi-finals of the Champions League. The team led by Spaniard Unai Emery surprised Bayern, looked for a 1-1 draw at the end of the match, in Munich, and survived the confrontation by winning the first game by 1-0.
Thus, one of the giants of the main European competition, six times champion, fell. And Emery’s team survived, which is once again showing great ability to lead teams in knockout championships. He has four Europa League titles under his belt – three with Sevilla and one with Villarreal himself – and now seeks success in the bigger tournament.
The Spaniard, now 50, was Neymar’s first coach at Paris Saint-Germain. He did not have much of a relationship with the forward and lasted only one season, with success restricted to French territory. After two years at Arsenal, he joined Villarreal, who won the last Europa League on top of the traditional Manchester United.
In this year’s Champions League, the Spanish team also did not cower in front of traditional clubs. In the round of 16, after a home draw, they qualified with a 3-0 victory over Juventus in Turin. Now, he punished Bayern, who took the lead on Tuesday night (12) and dominated most of the game.
The German team opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half, in a wrong departure from the visitors. Müller passed the ball to Lewandowski, who swung over the marker and finished with precision. The aggregate score of the match was tied.
There, Unai Emery made a decision that proved to be decisive, at 39, changing the midfield and exchanging Coquelin for Chukwueze. Three minutes later, in a counterattack on the left, Moreno made the cross for the Nigerian, who hit it with the first shot.
Villarreal repeats, at least, the 2005/06 campaign, a season in which they were led by Argentine midfielder Riquelme and were among the four finalists. Now, with his prominent name on the bench, he tries to go further.
Another Spaniard also advanced to the semifinals, this one with a much greater tradition in the tournament. Real Madrid, 13 times champions, suffered against Chelsea, lost in the 90 minutes at home, but survived with a goal from Benzema in extra time.
Overtaken by 3-1 in London, Chelsea started well and even made it 3-0 in Madrid, with goals from Mount, Rüdiger and Werner, the last one in the 30th minute of the second half. Only then did Real wake up and forced the extra time with a goal from Brazilian Rodrygo, after a great pass from Modric.
In extra time, the one who has been the great name of the white team appeared. At seven minutes of the first half, the French Benzema received a precise cross from the Brazilian Vinicius Junior and scored with a header. With the defeat by 3 to 2, the Madrid team advanced.
The opponent will be defined this Wednesday (13) and will come out of the clash between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, in Madrid. In London, City won 1-0.
Villarreal’s opponent will be Liverpool or Benfica. Liverpool are well ahead after a 3-1 win in Lisbon. The return duel also takes place this Wednesday, in England.
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