Villarreal believed in miracles, at least for 45 minutes, as they fought back to level their Champions League semi-final tie against Liverpool only to wilt in the second half of Tuesday’s second leg.

The Spanish side took a 2-0 lead on the night, playing like a team on a mission and roared on by their faithful fans who were packed inside their modest stadium. They went in at the break to a thunderous standing ovation and a deafening chorus of “Yes we can” having levelled the tie at 2-2.

Yet it was a tale of two halves for a Liverpool team, who shook off a groggy display to return after the break enthused and smelling blood.

They hit back with three goals in a 12-minute spell to advance to their third European Cup final in five seasons with a 3-2 win and 5-2 aggregate success. “Tonight is a night to be proud. The team believed until the end,” an emotional Gerard Moreno told reporters.

“The first-half was incredible, one of the best of the season. The match was put on the way we wanted, but physically the effort was noticeable and they are very good,” the Villarreal forward added.

Villarreal had looked a shadow of themselves in the first leg at Anfield, but were a completely different team in Spain.