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The Spanish side, making their Champions League bow, scored a potentially decisive 2-1 advantage in England against Everton. This was the Merseysiders’ first European adventure for 10 years and their first European Cup campaign since 1971. But the Toffees found the Yellow Submarine formidable opposition in what looked a tough draw for David Moyes’s side from the moment it was made.
Everton struggled to create clear-cut chances but James Beattie missed one of them in the seventh minute. Then, with Argentine playmaker Juan Román Riquelme becoming influential, his compatriot – and one-time Birmingham striker - Luciano Figueroa put Manuel Pellegrini’s side in front on 27 minutes.
But the Toffees drew level three minutes before the break when Beattie jumped with Gonzalo Rodríguez to meet Phil Neville’s cross and the ball dropped behind the pair off the defender’s head, Beattie reacting quickest to poke it past Mariano Barbosa.
However, Villarreal swiftly regained the advantage Juan Pablo Sorín crossing for Josico to send a fine header flying beyond Nigel Martyn.
#76