Villarreal spent much of their history in Spain’s lower divisions before eventually reaching the top tier in 1998. But on Wednesday, the side would appear in their first European final seeking a first major trophy. They also have the added incentive of Champions League qualification at stake in Poland.

Their Europa League journey, which began in October 2020 against Turkish top division side Sivasspor, will reach a decisive conclusion as they face Manchester United in the final. 

The 98-year-old Spanish club stands at the edge of a historic
moment. Representing Vila-Real, a city with a population of 50,000, the club for the very first time since its inception, can
sense both the pressure and thrill of a possible silverware-moment.

The club’s step-by-step ascension up the Europa League-ladder
began in the Group Stage, as the Spanish side, having finished fifth in La Liga
2020-2021 season, began slowly trotting towards their first possible chance to
clinch the trophy after the win against Sivasspor.

Defeating FC Salzburg with an aggregate score of 4-1 in the
Round of 32, Villarreal moved forward in the Champions League Round of 16, towering
with a 4-0 score over Ukrainian top side Dynamo Kyiv and disposing off them in
the same manner as Salzburg.

The Spanish side, however, met their match in Dinamo Zagreb
in the quarter final, with a tough first leg battle producing a 1-0 result in
favour of them, and a second leg match which ultimately led to a 2-1 win
against the Croatian side.

An even bigger battle awaited Villarreal coach Unai Emery’s
boys, as the manager’s previous club and English heavyweights, Arsenal FC, turned
out to be their opponents in the semi-finals.

Under normal circumstances, the match might have spelled out
an easy win for Arsenal and an end to Villarreal’s Europa League dreams, but these
were not normal times.

The game, conducted in Arsenal’s home ground of Emirates
Stadium in London saw Villarreal getting ahead in the five-minute mark by a
Manu Trigueros goal, and once again in the 29th minute by Raul Albiol,
as the Gunners remained unsuccessful is levelling the score, despite a goal
from Nicolas Pepe in the second half.

The second leg of the semi-finals saw a barrage of attacks
by Arsenal, as the London side went at it, trying to overturn the first leg
results, but ultimately failing, as Villarreal entered their first ever Europa
League finals.

By now the club’s sudden bout of success has been analysed many
times, with most of the credit going to key players like Gerard Moreno, Raul Albiol
and Pau Torres in attack, defence, and defensive midfield respectively, as well
as ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery, who appeared to have made it happen for the Spanish
club that pales in comparison to its bigger and more prominent rivals like FC
Barcelona and Real Madrid back in Spain.

What appears to be missing, and needs to be brought into
focus, is the underdog factor: the sheer hustling and winning mentality that
has made Villarreal squeeze out favourable outcomes from difficult matches this
season, and is something that will be on their side against English giants
Manchester United on Tuesday night.