May 3, 2022, 1:51 p.m. ET
May 3, 2022, 1:51 p.m. ET
Villarreal, Spain – Liverpool know better than most that nothing is as dangerous in the Champions League as assuming the matter is settled. There was a reason Jurgen Klopp did not offer Anfield his usual euphoric, shocking celebration after beating Villarreal 2-0 last week. No one should make the mistake of thinking that Liverpool’s place in the final is secure.
Villarreal, as its manager Unai Emery said, will have to create the “perfect game” to prevent Klopp from leading Liverpool to the third final in five years, but there is reason to hope: Bayern Munich lost to Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica. quarterfinals; Gerard Moreno, the center of his attack, must return to the team despite the injury; and will be able to count on a boisterous, adamant home audience.
Villarreal, a quiet place with good heels on the outskirts of the industrial city of Castellon, is no obvious bear pit. He spent most of the day bathing in torrential downpours. Its streets, even a few hours before the start, were quiet, the only noise generated by fans of both teams cheerfully exchanging songs.
But this is, as Emery said, an extremely loyal place: most of the windows are decorated in yellow and blue for the occasion. According to the cliché, approximately half of the city’s population will be at the stadium to watch Emery’s team try to perform a miracle. Another miracle, namely: The first is Villarreal, a team from such a big city, which is here in the first place. Emery’s team will have to be perfect. But all that is needed is a goal, and the perfect does not seem impossible. Klopp and Liverpool know this better than most.
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