2005–06 Villarreal CF season

Villarreal CF

2005–06 season
Manager	Manuel Pellegrini
Stadium	El Madrigal
La Liga	7th
Champions League	Semi-finals
Copa del Rey	Round of 16
Top goalscorer	Juan Román Riquelme (12)
← 2004–05 2006–07 →

During the 2005–06 Spanish football season, Villarreal CF competed in La Liga.

Season summary

Villarreal reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, being knocked out by eventual runners-up Arsenal 1-0 on aggregate, with Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann saving a last-minute Juan Román Riquelme penalty, in the second leg, that would have taken the tie to extra time in front of Villarreal's home support.

Despite Villarreal's excellent form in Europe, the continental success was not translated to the domestic stage. Villarreal finished seventh, consigning them to Intertoto Cup football.

Squad

Squad at end of season^[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Javier López Vallejo 2 DF Gonzalo Rodríguez 3 DF Rodolfo Arruabarrena 4 DF César Arzo Amposta 5 FW Diego Forlán 6 MF Josico 7 FW Antonio Guayre 8 MF Juan Román Riquelme 9 FW Guillermo Franco[2] 10 MF Roger 11 MF Javier Calleja 12 DF Juan Pablo Sorín 13 GK Sebastián Viera 14 MF Héctor Font 16 DF Quique Álvarez 17 DF Javi Venta

No. Position Player 18 MF Alessio Tacchinardi (on loan to Juventus) 19 MF Marcos Senna[3] 21 MF Santi Cazorla 22 DF Juan Manuel Peña 23 FW José Mari 24 DF Josemi 25 GK Mariano Barbosa 26 FW Xisco Nadal 29 FW Jony 30 DF Carlos Alcántara 31 GK Juan Carlos 32 MF José Javier Rubio 35 DF Nino 36 FW Oscar López 44 MF Marquitos 46 MF David Fuster

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 9 FW Luciano Figueroa (on loan to River Plate) 15 DF Jan Kromkamp (to Liverpool)

No. Position Player 20 MF Luis Antonio Valencia (on loan to Recreativo de Huelva)

Results

Champions League

Third qualifying round

• 9 August 2005: Everton 1-2 Villarreal (Beattie 42'; Figueroa 27', Josico 45') attendance 37,685
• 24 August 2005: Villarreal 2-1 Everton (Sorin 21', Forlan 90+2'; Arteta 69') attendance 21,500

Group stage

• 14 September 2005: Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United; attendance 22,000
• 27 September 2005: Lille 0-0 Villarreal; attendance 35,000
• 18 October 2005: Villarreal 1-1 Benfica (Riquelme 72' pen; Manuel Fernandes 77') attendance 20,000
• 2 November 2005: Benfica 0-1 Villarreal (Senna '81) attendance 30,000 e o Mantorras
• 22 November 2005: Manchester United 0-0 Villarreal; attendance 67,475
• 7 December 2005: Villarreal 1-0 Lille (Guayre 67') attendance 20,000

References

1. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/spain/2005-2006/laliga/villar.htm
2. Franco was born in Corrientes, Argentina, but became a naturalised Mexican citizen in 2004 and made his international debut for Mexico in 2005.
3. Senna was born in São Paulo, Brazil, but obtained Spanish citizenship in 2006 and made his international debut for Spain in March 2006.