Before the encounter, Bulgarian media was rife with reports emanating from Spain about how Villarreal should and would "open up" and "unleash" a torrent of goals and dismantle the visiting Bulgarian champions. Considering Levski’s unimpressive European performances as of late and their latest league defeat at the hands of Lokomotiv Sofia, the match was awaited with anticipation, and to an extent, dread.
 
Yet, when the rain in Spain started pouring, the dogged Levski Sofia side for a moment seemed like they can get away unscathed. In fact, the visitors could have taken the lead on three different occasions at the end of the first half, but it was luck that saved Villarreal.
 
Villarreal dominated the match, but in the first 45 minutes Levski were organised and menacing. Balls weren’t just cleared, the Blues constantly looked for opportunities to regroup in the middle of the park and mount an attack forward.
 
And it was in the last five minutes of the opening half when Levski had three brilliant opportunities to score.  Brazilian winger Joaozinho skipped away from Gonzalo in the 43rd minute and cut back to Luchezar Baltanov, who had an eternity to pick his spot from less than ten metres. Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez lunge parried the effort over but did not neutralise the danger.
 
Chakib Benzoukane was unmarked from the ensuing corner but steered his close-range header just off the post. Levski surged forward again and an elegant flick and turn from Georgi Hristov meant he did the arduous bit, but then failed to do the easy part – instead of unleashing a sound drive on goal, his less than tame shot was saved by Lopez.
 
Heaving weathered Levski's brief onslaugh, Villarreal returned after the break to completely dominate the match. The torrential rain seemed to get worse, if at all possible, and with the pitch conditions deteriorating, the hosts turned on the screws.
 
Levski were restricted to defending in massed ranks for prolonged swathes of the match, only occasionally managing to cross the central line. Substitute Giusseppe Rossi came on in an effort to boost the efforts of the home side up front in attack.
 
What followed was a string of mind-boggling misses and some desperate defending from the Bulgarians. At times, with the pouring rain, and bodies being hurled in the penalty box from all directions, it seemed almost comical.
 
Villarreal head coach Ernesto Valverde locked bemused as his team proceeded to waste opportunity after opportunity. Levski defended desperately, but not chaotically, and the Bulgarian side did not appear to be intimidated in any way by their famous opponent. The disparity in class however, was more than apparent.
 
A Robert Pires free-kick had already tested the Bulgarian keeper and Cani increased the pressure minutes after a Pereira miss but goalkeeper Georgi Petkov capably punched clear.
 
But finally the walls was broken and Nilmar broke the stalemate 17 minutes from time, earning the Spaniards a deserved victory. Levski will be disappointed to leave El Madrigal empty-handed but they can take pride in themselves for the way they conducted themselves and the way they played.
 
In the other Group G match, Lazio lost at home to Red Bull Salzburg 1-2.