A look back at when Europa League winners Villarreal played Athlone Town

Last night will live long in the memory of Villarreal fans, as their side overcame Manchester United after a marathon penalty shootout to win the Europa League.

In Athlone, the memories stirred by the result went back to a sunny Saturday night in 2010, when the Spanish club's distinctive bright yellow shirts emerged from the dressing rooms in Lissywollen for a friendly fixture against Athlone Town.

Mario Gaspar, the longest-serving Villarreal player to feature in last night's final in Gdansk, was among those played in the game against Athlone almost eleven years ago.

Then 19 years of age, Gaspar played the first 45 minutes of the fixture, which took place on July 24 that year.

Villarreal ran out 3-0 winners in what was their first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2010-11 La Liga campaign.

Managed by Juan Carlos Garrido, the visitors' team included former Manchester United striker Giuseppe Rossi, and Santi Cazorla who would go on to spend six years at Arsenal.

The side was captained by Brazilian-born Spanish international Marcos Senna who, two years earlier, had been part of the Spanish side which won the European Championship.

Senna, who sported a bandage in Athlone that indicated he’d just had stitches over his right eye, played the full duration of the 2008 European Championship final in which Spain defeated Germany 1-0.

Another notable player in the Villarreal side that day was goalkeeper Diego Lopez who would later be signed by Real Madrid and AC Milan.

Between the posts for Athlone was Mayo's Micheál Schlingermann who, after playing for a number of League of Ireland clubs including Drogheda and Sligo, returned to Athlone this season and played in last weekend's 2-1 win against Cobh Ramblers at the same venue.

Athlone natives Brian McCarthy, Niall Scullion and Scott Gaynor were part of the 2010 squad managed by Brendan Place, with Ballinasloe's Des Hope, Tullamore's Kevin Williamson, and experienced goal-poacher Declan 'Fabio' O'Brien, also featuring.

The Westmeath Independent match report stated that "a slightly below expected crowd of just over 1,000" turned up "to watch some of La Liga's most impressive talent" that evening.

Guiseppe Rossi gave the visitors an early lead from the penalty spot, and would have added to his tally if not for an excellent display by Schlingermann.

"Athlone, who must be applauded for a great effort and also for not completely capitulating against a very high standard of opposition, found the visitors' speed of thought, excellent technique and movement, and extra finesse, so difficult to get to grips with, and it was only after Rossi opened the scoring that Athlone settled a little bit," said the report.

"Villarreal's style of play and ability is simply on a different planet to the League of Ireland First Division, but Athlone never threw in the towel and did everything they could to give the visitors a worthwhile pre-season run-out."

The match report also noted the presence of a large number of Athlone-based Spanish students in the crowd who were vocal in their support for Villarreal, and were no doubt surprised at the opportunity to see some of the big names from their domestic top flight in action in the Irish Midlands.

Villarreal put out an entirely different eleven for the second half, with the second and third goals coming from David Fuster, an attacking midfielder who signed for Olympiacos for €1.5 million the following month and spent the next six years playing in Greece.

At a press conference in Athlone Town Stadium after the game, Villarreal boss Garrido answered questions in English and praised the Athlone players for their "good behaviour" on the pitch.

"The Athlone players showed good behaviour. It was a difficult match for them because they were playing against a First Division team (in La Liga) and for us it's a difficult match too because it's our first match (of the pre-season)," he said.

For Athlone, the game had come after a particularly hectic week which included two league games and three friendlies. Manager Brendan Place said fatigue had played a part in his team's performance.

"It was a long but enjoyable week for the club and what a way to finish, against a team of real quality," he said.

He added that the Athlone players "coped very well" with their technically superior opponents - pointing out that one of Villarreal's three goals came from the penalty spot while another was the result of a free kick.

"I would have liked to have seen us play against them fresh and then maybe we would have given them a bit more of a game," he said.

Athlone Town's 1975 encounter with AC Milan has long been part of local lore, but Villarreal's success last night means the club's list of former opponents now includes the winners of another major European trophy.