El Madrigal to the locals – Estadio de la Ceramica as the sponsors prefer – is aptly named. A song for many voices, the Villarreal faithful respond in kind as they cheer the Yellow Submarine to victory. To the north of Valencia, the pueblo of Vila-real would be somewhere you passed through on the way to somewhere else; El Submarino Amarillo changed that when they hit the top flight of Spanish football in 1998. Since then, a heady mix of European adventures – including a Champions League semi-final defeat to Arsenal in 2006 – and top six finishes firmly established the ‘new boys’ as members of the elite. While Castellon are their nearest rivals, Valencia are their biggest. There is nothing more satisfying for the supporters than putting one over their illustrious neighbours. And when you hear the roar from the stands, you’ll be swept along on the wave of passion and become submerged in everything about the club!
