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Tuesday, 9 August 2005 
Everton waited long time to return in the European elite competition, only to be beaten 2-1 on their home ground by Spanish side Villareal. Their return after 34 years absence, ended in a disappointment.
Villareal who finished third in the last season Spanish top League, was tonight a better team than the fourth place finishers in the Premiership. The home side fell behind in the 27th minute after Luciano Figueroa put the Spaniards one up. James Beattie equalised three minutes from half-time after picking up the ball in the box that fell short of the target after his own header. Just before half-time Josico scored the winner for Villareal.
Everton boss David Moyes introduced two strikers Duncan Ferguson and Marcus Bent half the way into the second half of the game, however they failed to reverse Villareal's first-half advantage.
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