Villarreal's "U-21" squad takes on PSV Eindhoven in Cup Final

Villarreal are competing in two competitions in England this week.  While the focus is understandably on the trip to Liverpool on Thursday, we are represented in the final of a European competition the night before!

The competition is of course the grandly named Premier League U-21 International Cup.  Manchester City won it last year, defeating Porto.  Remember that all the matches have to be played in England because UEFA wouldn't give it official sanction, which meant a bit of last-minute reshuffling last year.  This year, the tournament calendar was known more in advance, and yet again, in spite of the home-field advantage for the Premier League clubs, three of the four semifinalists--and this year, both finalists--are from outside England.

Villarreal and PSV Eindhoven have actually met once already, as they were drawn into the same group.  Villarreal won that 4-0 with two goals from Fran Sol, one each from Alfonso Pedraza and Leo Suarez.  That might therefore give Villarreal the advantage, but then again, it's hard to defeat a team multiple times.

PSV took the English route to get here, defeating Sunderland and Chelsea in the knockout rounds to reach the final, while Villarreal were in continental mood, knocking off Athletic Bilbao and Porto.

There had been some talk of holding the final in the Manchester area, which would have made it easier for Villarreal supporters in Liverpool to come and see it, but maybe it's not possible to change things on such short notice these days--I don't know.  At any rate, the final is at The Den, Millwall FC's home ground.

The match begins at 7pm British Summer Time on Wednesday.  I expect it will be streamed on the club website (Villarreal TV, Live) but I don't know about that for sure.  Anyone in the UK wanting to come and watch in person, we expect to have some of Penya El Madrigal there, Los Piratos Amarillos (Dutch supporters' club), and Villarreal USA will be represented as well!

The ground is very close to South Bermondsey station--there are trains from London Bridge that go there.   Endavant Villarreal!!  Vamos mini-submarino!!