Nine Yellow Submarine players have Champions League experience, with over 149 matches between them
Villarreal CF is preparing to compete in the UEFA Champions League for the fifth time in its history, doing so with a solid core of players who already know what it means to perform at the highest European level. Nine members of the current squad bring prior experience in the competition, combining for a total of 149 matches in the most prestigious club tournament in the world.
At the top of the list is Thomas Partey, with 44 appearances split between Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal, followed closely by Dani Parejo, with 41 games between Valencia and Villarreal. Both midfielders will provide invaluable experience and an understanding of the demands of competing in the Champions League.
They are followed by Juan Foyth, who has 16 appearances across his spells with Tottenham and Villarreal, and Manor Solomon, who has played the same number of matches in the competition with Shakhtar Donetsk. Alfonso Pedraza and Gerard Moreno can also boast Champions League experience, with 10 and seen appearances respectively. Both were part of Villarreal’s historic 2021/22 campaign, when the Submarine reached the semifinals of the tournament for the second time in its history.
Completing the list of players with prior experience in the competition are Pape Gueye (seven with Marseille), Tajon Buchanan (six with Club Brugge), and Renato Veiga (two with Juventus).
Big-name Champions League debuts
Several key players in Marcelino’s squad will make their official debuts in the Champions League this season. Footballers such as Sergi Cardona, Alberto Moleiro, Santi Comesaña, and Santiago Mouriño, among others, will have the chance to play their first minutes in this prestigious competition.
Of particular note will be the debut of players with vast and successful European careers, such as Nicolas Pepe, Ayoze Pérez, and Georges Mikautadze, who will all hear the iconic Champions League anthem on the pitch for the very first time in their careers.
