Villarreal High on Confidence Ahead of Liverpool Tie, Says Parejo

12 April 2022, Bavaria, Munich: (L-R) Villareal's Gerard Moreno, Etienne Capoue and Juan Marcos Foyth celebrate their victory after the final whistle of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-final second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Villarreal CF at Allianz Arena. (dpa)
12 April 2022, Bavaria, Munich: (L-R) Villareal's Gerard Moreno, Etienne Capoue and Juan Marcos Foyth celebrate their victory after the final whistle of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-final second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Villarreal CF at Allianz Arena. (dpa)
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Villarreal High on Confidence Ahead of Liverpool Tie, Says Parejo

12 April 2022, Bavaria, Munich: (L-R) Villareal's Gerard Moreno, Etienne Capoue and Juan Marcos Foyth celebrate their victory after the final whistle of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-final second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Villarreal CF at Allianz Arena. (dpa)
12 April 2022, Bavaria, Munich: (L-R) Villareal's Gerard Moreno, Etienne Capoue and Juan Marcos Foyth celebrate their victory after the final whistle of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-final second leg soccer match between FC Bayern Munich and Villarreal CF at Allianz Arena. (dpa)

After eliminating Juventus and Bayern Munich from the Champions League, Villarreal have "all the confidence in the world" that they can get past Liverpool and reach the final of Europe's elite club competition, midfielder Dani Parejo said.

The Spanish side won the Europa League last season and followed up that impressive European campaign by reaching their first Champions League semi-final in 16 years.

"On the basis of the teams we have beaten, not only this year, but also last year in the Europa League, and now the journey we have had in this Champions League," Parejo told reporters ahead of the first leg at Anfield later on Wednesday.

"Knocking out Juventus and Bayern was very important for us because it showed we can reach a level where we can compete with these teams."

Parejo credited owner Fernando Roig and vice president Jose Manuel Llaneza for the club's success. Billionaire Roig became Villarreal's president in 1997 and was the architect of their rise to becoming one of the top sides in Spanish football.

"When you look at the club, which was taken over by the Roig family 23 or 24 years ago along with Jose Manuel Llaneza, they have played European competitions for many years ...," Parejo said. "This isn't a coincidence.

"That is work, consistency, and trust in a project while taking loving care of it, giving it importance and letting people work. I believe that when you trust in a project and you put love into it, the chances to succeed are much higher."



Club World Cup: Al-Hilal Bows Out After a Run That ‘Exceeded Expectations’

Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)
Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)
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Club World Cup: Al-Hilal Bows Out After a Run That ‘Exceeded Expectations’

Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)
Al-Hilal exits Club World Cup after Quarter-Final loss to Fluminense. (SPA)

Al-Hilal exited from the 2025 Club World Cup yesterday, following a 2-1 defeat to Brazil's Fluminense in their quarter-final match.

Substitute Hercules scored his second goal in as many second-half appearances to lift Fluminense into the FIFA Club World Cup semifinals with a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Al Hilal on Friday in Orlando, Fla.

Martinelli also scored late in the first half to continue a fabulous tournament for the Rio de Janeiro club and Brazil overall. Palmeiras also got to the quarterfinals before falling 2-1 on Friday to Chelsea, who will oppose Fluminense on Tuesday in a semifinal match at East Rutherford, N.J.

Al Hilal exits despite a fourth tournament goal for striker Marcos Leonardo, who was in for the injured Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Saudi side was the last from Asia remaining, having pulled off the tournament's biggest upset with a 4-3, extra-time victory over Manchester City in the second round on Monday.

Hercules put Fluminense in front for good in the 70th minute when he was rewarded for his own persistence.

After his first long-range shot was deflected high into the air, he continued his run forward as teammate Samuel Xavier won the next header.

It landed at the feet of Hercules, whose wonderful first touch put him in shooting position before his second sent a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner, prompting jubilation from yet another pro-Brazilian crowd at this tournament.

Al Hilal pressured Fluminense in the dying stages, but couldn't create a clear look on Fabio's net.

Martinelli put Fluminense in front in the 40th minute on a brilliant strike. His first touch took Gabriel Fuentes' pass beyond a charging Al Hilal defender, and his second unleashed a ferocious left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to the top right corner from about 15 yards.

A minute into first-half stoppage time, Fluminense keeper Fabio sprawled to his left to push Kalidou Koulibaly's powerful header beyond the post.

After nearly leveling before halftime, Koulibaly won another dangerous header six minutes into the second half from a corner.

This time it landed at the feet of Leonardo, who balanced himself and scooped a finish from close range past Fabio and two defenders on the line.

It remained level four minutes later when Bounou sprawled to his right to take the ball off the feet of German Cano trying to round him on the dribble after intercepting a pass deep in the attacking half.

Liverpool FC and Portugal national team star Diogo Joto and his brother Andre Silva, who died Thursday in Spain in a car accident, were honored with a pregame moment of silence.