Villarreal debuted in the top flight of Spanish football in 1998 against Real Madrid
A historic day for the Yellows. On this day, 31st August, but in 1998, Villarreal played their first ever game in the First Division of Spanish football. A historic day on which the Yellows made their debut in the top flight, on a Monday in the 1998/99 season, against no less than Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The Submarine took to the field with a starting eleven made up of Palop, Pascual Donat, Roberto, Serer, Arregui, Gerardo, Antonio Díaz, Albelda, Alfaro, Moisés and Gica Craioveanu.
The Yellows, managed by José Antonio Irulegui at the time, went ahead on the score board in the 3rd minute with a goal by Craioveanu, but Madrid’s reaction was instant and the match finished 4-1 in favour of the locals, with the Submarine finishing the game with ten men after Moisés got sent off at the start of the second half.
