Everton 1 - Villarreal 2

Everton: Martyn; Hibbert, Yobo, Wier, Pistone (McFadden 79'); Phil Neville, Arteta; Davies, Cahill, Kilbane (Ferguson 63'); Beattie (Bent 63'). 4-2-3-1.
Villarreal: Barbosa; Javi Venta, Quique Alvarez, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Arruabarrena; Riquelme, Marcos Senna, Josico, Sorín (Peña 90'); Diego Forlán (Guayre 86'), Figueroa (Tacchinardi 65'). 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 27. Figueroa. Ran on to Senna through ball and struck low shot across Martyn.
1-1. 42. Beattie. Poked ball past Barbosa after long cross headed up in air.
1-2. 45. Josico. Diving header wide of keeper from Sorín's cross.

Villarreal took a huge step towards a first ever appearance in the Champions League after beating Everton 1-2 at Goodison Park. The English side were playing their first game in Europe in ten years and started off enthusiastically, although Riquelme caused them some early problems with a couple of free kicks and Diego Forlán fired a long shot wide of the target.

Midway through the first half though Figueroa ran on to a pass from Marcos Senna and out-sprint Wier before driving an angled shot low past Nigel Martyn. Everton didn't give up though, Cahill heading just over the bar soon after the goal. And three minutes before the break Beattie got the equaliser, poking the ball past a hesitant Barbosa after Phil Neville's cross was headed up in the air.

Their joy only lasted three minutes though before Villarreal were back in front, Josico throwing himself forward to head Sorín's cross past Martyn after Riquelme had sent the Argentine fullback away down the right wing. David Moyes brought on Ferguson and Bent after the break, and Barbosa did well to smother an effort from Bent soon afterwards. But apart from a couple of chances in the closing minutes which fell to Tacchinardi and Yobo there was little else to talk about, and the Spaniards take a big advantage into the second leg in a fortnight's time.