Uefa Champions League

By Chris
September 22 2013

Tuesday evening saw David Moyes win his first Champions League game in management – eight years after his only other attempt in Europe’s elite competition. In 2005/2006 season, his Toffees side exited the tournament at the third qualification round stage with defeat to Villarreal.

Having claimed fourth spot in the Premier League in 2005, Moyes’ men earned the chance to impress amongst the continent’s elite – but their challenge ended at the first hurdle.

In the third qualifying round, Everton suffered a 4-2 aggregate defeat to Villarreal – a 2-1 defeat at Goodison Park followed up by the same result in Spain, with Diego Forlan amongst the goalscorers for the La Liga club.

During his eleven years at the club, that was Moyes’ only Champions League adventure. In his eight league campaigns which followed, Everton finished amongst the Premier League’s top six on four occasions, but missed out on qualification for Uefa’s showpiece competition.

Expectation to perform in the Champions League is, therefore, a new experience for Moyes since taking the job in the Old Trafford hot seat. He got off to an impressive start – with United opening their 19th successive campaign in the UCL with a 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen.