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Adelaide United, Brisbane Roar to host Villarreal CF

The Roar will take on Spanish side Villarreal in a friendly later in the year. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Guru
10th April, 2015
6

One of Spain’s best football clubs, Villarreal CF will play two friendly matches against A-League sides Adelaide United and the Brisbane Roar.

Founded in 1923, Villarreal are nicknamed El Submarino Amarillo (The Yellow Submarine) and are a great example of a small but successful club. Despite being one of the most well known clubs across the world, their home ground El Madrigal holds just 24,890 spectators.

Runners-up in the 2007-08 La Liga, at the end of Round 30 the club stand at sixth position behind the likes of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. While winning trophies in Spain is notoriously difficult if your club does not feature the words ‘Madrid’ or ‘Barcelona’ in its name, Villarreal have managed to stay close to the big boys despite the obvious disadvantages.

The friendlies will be apart of the LFP World Challenge, a tournament organised by La Liga to take friendly matches around the world to promote the competition overseas.

“Villarreal is one of Spain’s most well-known clubs and we’re delighted to welcome them to Brisbane and to be involved in the LFP World Challenge”, said Brisbane Roar managing director Sean Dobson.

“This is another great chance for our members and fans to see world-class football in Brisbane, making this off-season one to be enjoyed.”

The matches will be played six weeks before Liverpool take on both clubs. Visits to Australia by Liverpool and other English Premier League clubs have been successful in the past two years, but it remains to be seen whether the Spanish sides will have the same pulling power.

Adelaide United versus Villarreal CF – Friday 29 May 2015, Coopers Stadium (Kick-off: 7.30pm)
Brisbane Roar versus Villarreal CF – Wednesday 3 June 2015, Suncorp Stadium (Kick-off: TBD)

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