Clash with Europa League winners
Fri, 18/03/22, 14:53
Villarreal CF - the lowdown on Bayern's quarter-final opponents
FC Bayern's opponents in the quarter-finals of the Champions League are Spanish side Villarreal CF, who have been something of the surprise package in Europe's premier club competition this season. FCB will travel to Spain first on 6 April, before the second leg at the Allianz Arena on 12 April. "Villarreal are the defending Europa League winners, so they're a good team, no question. We won't underestimate them," commented board member for sport Hasan Salihamidžić. fcbayern.com takes a closer look at our opponents in the last eight.
Arnaut Danjuma's penalty rounded off a 3-0 win in Turin.
Impressive win in last 16
The Yellow Submarine, as they're nicknamed, are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 13 years - and they've earned it. After finishing runners-up in their group behind Manchester United, Unai Emery's team knocked out Italian giants Juventus in the round of 16. Following a 1-1 draw at home, goals from Pau, Gerard and Arnaut Danjuma fired the Spaniards to an emphatic 3-0 win in the second leg. "Villarreal showed in the round of 16 what they're capable of," warned CEO Oliver Kahn. "For that reason we have to be on our guard and approach the task with full concentration. No one can think that they'll be two easy games."
Two previous meetings
The German record champions and the club from the Valencian Community have only met twice before. In the 2011/12 Champions League season, FCB won both matches in the group stage (2-0 away, 3-1 at home) and Villarreal exited the competition as the bottom-placed team. This is the Spaniards' fourth time taking part in the competition and they have enjoyed better times, reaching the quarter-finals in 2009 and the semi-finals in their maiden campaign in 2006 - losing to Arsenal in both instances.
Bayern won 3-1 at the Allianz Arena in their last encounter with Villarreal - Franck Ribéry with two of the goals.
Biggest success last year
Villarreal have yet to win any of the major honours in Spain. The greatest success in the club's history came last season when the team, who are currently seventh in La Liga, won the Europa League with a penalty shootout victory (11-10) over Manchester United in the final. The success was probably down in part to coach Emery, who had previously lifted the trophy three times with Sevilla and is the most successful coach in the competition. Villarreal's best showing in the Spanish league was second place in 2008 behind Real Madrid.
If you missed the draw earlier, watch it again here:
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