Villarreal grounded in Slovenia

The Yellow Submarine have been sunk before most of the continent's leading clubs have even set sail on their European adventures.

Summer football
After reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League last season, Villarreal CF will have no chance of similar heroics this time around. The club's seventh-placed finish in the Primera División meant they had to enter the UEFA Intertoto Cup, and they fell at the first hurdle, bowing out to Slovenia's NK Maribor. Despite getting the better of the likes of FC Internazionale Milano last season, this time it was Villarreal who were on the wrong end of an upset.

Not enough
Villarreal's 2-1 loss at El Madrigal last week meant they had it all to do in Saturday's return fixture. Although Nihat Kahveci pulled one back, it did not come until the 85th minute and by then they were already down to ten men following Alessio Tacchinardi's dismissal. Gonzalo Rodríguez and Diego Forlán would also be sent off late on and Maribor drew level through Goražd Zajc. It took the Slovenian side through 3-2 on aggregate to Friday's UEFA Cup second qualifying round draw but, while Maribor march on, Villarreal will have to concentrate on domestic matters.

Media dismay
In the Spanish press Diario Sport described the club's "sad goodbye" from European football as "diasastrous". El Mundo Deportivo echoed others when claiming such an important fixture had come too early, particularly after last season's arduous campaign. "Pellegrini's team were set on controlling the match but, as in the first leg, the better physical condition of the Slovenians served to counteract the superior quality of the Castellon team."

Four dismissals
Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini was equally downbeat. He said the result was not because his players had taken progress for granted but because they did not cope well with the pressure and play of their opponents. Unsurprisingly, he said to have three players sent off was a major factor, having already seen Josemi red-carded during the first leg. "We can't have four players sent off in one round, one in Villarreal and three today, that's something that shouldn't happen."

Madrid first
Pellegrini added: "To tell the truth, it's hard not to be in a European competition, but now we have to concentrate on the league and cup.” If they are to stay afloat this season, the Yellow Submarine will have to pick themselves up pretty quickly as their domestic campaign begins on 27 August with a trip to the Santiago Bernabéu to take on a rejuvenated Real Madrid CF.