This Monday marks 28 years since Villarreal CF's debut in La Liga. It was August 31, 1998 at a grand stage like the Santiago Bernabéu. The yellow team, managed at the time by José Antonio Irulegui, made its debut in the top flight against Real Madrid coached by Guus Hiddink.
The match was marked by the early goal of Gica Craioveanu, who after a triangulation with Quique Álvarez and a subsequent dribble past the goalkeeper, beat the Madrid goal and made it 1-0. The Romanian striker completed a play that began with a pass from the defender.
Real Madrid, under the direction of Guus Hiddink, ended up prevailing on the scoreboard with a 4-2 result, according to data from the time. Craioveanu's goal went down in club history as Villarreal's first goal in La Liga.
This historic debut at the Bernabéu against the Blancos team represented the beginning of a new era for the Castelló club in the elite of Spanish football, consolidating their rise from lower divisions to the top national competition.
