At a time when a clique of super clubs has cemented its grip on the Champions League and the riches that go with it, Villarreal’s surprise progress to the semi-finals of Europe’s elite competition is to be savoured.

The Spaniards followed their stunning victory over Italian giants Juventus in the last 16 by ousting Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, a 1-1 draw in Germany on Tuesday taking them through 2-1 on aggregate.

The club known as the Yellow Submarine and from a town of barely 50,000 people are through to the semi-finals against the odds, but deserve to be there thanks to the outstanding work done under coach Unai Emery.

 

Continue reading this article on Sports Desk, the new sports website by Times of Malta

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