MUNICH, Germany — The Allianz Arena speakers blared “Bitter Sweet Symphony” and “The Show Must Go On” as soon as the final whistle blew on Bayern Munich’s Champions League hopes for another season, but they wouldn’t have heard either of those mournful songs in the tiny section housing the Villarreal supporters.
They were too busy celebrating their team’s 2-1 aggregate win which sealed a place in the Champions League semifinals. Once again, Unai Emery’s remarkable side had shocked a European superpower. Last week’s 1-0 victory over Bayern at El Madrigal was followed by a 1-1 draw here in Germany, earning the “Yellow Submarine” a semifinal date against either Liverpool or Benfica.
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Leading 3-1 from the first-leg in Lisbon, Liverpool are almost certain to confirm themselves as Villarreal’s opponents in the last four when they host the return against the Portuguese team at Anfield on Wednesday. Even the most cautious Liverpool supporter will be celebrating Villarreal’s progression — as poor as Bayern Munich were over the two legs, they are still the six-time tournament winners and perennial Bundesliga champions. And Villarreal are what they have always been, a team that punches way above their weight.
Villarreal, holders of the Europa League, continue their storybook run in the Champions League. Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images
They are a club from a town with a population of just 51,000 — less than half the capacity of Barcelona’s Camp Nou — and had never won a major trophy until last season’s dramatic penalty shoot-out win against Manchester United in the Europa League final in Gdansk, Poland. That victory earned Villarreal the final spot in this season’s Champions League and they have certainly made the most of it. Emery’s team stunned Juventus in Turin to eliminate the Italian giants in the Round of 16 and they have now beaten Bayern.
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