LaLiga debuts in UEFA Conference League

Spanish football debuted yesterday in the Conference League, the third European football competition, in the hands of Villarreal. It’s funny, but it was Villarreal who were to blame for Spain not being in the first edition after winning the Europa League, which qualified them for the Champions League. That saw us having five clubs in the big one plus two others in the Europa League, meaning we had to give up our place in the Conference. That’s why we didn’t give it very much heed in its first edition. But on Thursday it appeared on our screens, and the premiere was promising. When it comes to traveling with a team, it’s always good company with Villarreal.

Three UEFA trophies returned

I like the idea of the Conference League. In our football, where we are very accustomed to the highest levels, I have found many people looking at it with contempt, but seeing the number of those who followed Villarreal’s game at the Ciudad de Valencia, the home of Levante, where the premiere took place due to La Cerámica still being under construction, you can see that it has captured interest. Roma, a significant name in global football, celebrated their title a few months ago in style and Mourinho wore that medal with great pride. It is the third European club title, but it is a European title. And it’s also not new that there are three: there was already the European Cup, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the UEFA Cup, and before that the Fairs.

Morales leads Villarreal

Last night’s match, in the preliminary qualifying phase, had nerve, goals and interest. Hajduk Split, whose name evokes the old image of Surjak, did not make it easy. They went ahead, then conceded four with Commander Morales, unleashed on what was his pitch for so many years, as the main threat, before a late and absurd penalty by Mandi, whose elbow made blood flow from the face of Kalinic, left the final score a more than satisfactory 4-2. Next Thursday, in Split, we will find out if Villarreal will go through to the group stage. They deserve it and need it, because they are a proper European club, but that elbow…