Smash and grab Rayo sneaked past a side with an impeccable European pedigree in a top-drawer statement victory.

The boys from the barrio are beginning to mug established Spanish names – not through a muscular display of bootboy thuggery but with a thoughtful and calm approach.

Superb defence frustrates big names perhaps thinking they’re in for an easy win, and killer goals just at the right time.

The groguets (‘yellow’ in Valenciano, a strain of Catalan) have been playing here since 1923. It’s bang in the middle of a built-up residential area and the yellow cladding, in homage to Villarreal’s ceramic tradition, gives an old stadium a modern sheen.

The opposite end – in the top picture – is a marked contrast from outside, and looks jerry-built. Some flats are underneath the ugly yellow metal supports to the right of the Taberna El Manchego.

Inside the seats are a gleaming yellow, brand new and you almost need sunglasses even at night, to protect your eyes from them.

This game was live on TV on a very cold night by Spanish standards – the only time I’ve felt chilly at a game over here.

That contributed to a crowd of about 14,300. My super-friendly hotel manager didn’t fancy it. ‘I only go to the Real Madrid and Barcelona games,’ he said as he gave me his season ticket for the Manchego end.

Villarreal are so old school they even did a programme – a first in 35 years of watching games in Spain.

And there’s a strong sense of what has gone before – the stadium’s name was changed and it was previously The Madrigal.

And on the inside, a series of makeovers disguises its 100 year origins.

This year the club is celebrating its centenary.

There are yellow submarine flags are all over the city, which has a population of about 50,000.

But there was no birthday party atmosphere at the stadium. The match kicked off at 9pm and this being a family club, many primary school age children attended and there was little intensity.

Despite having reached two Champions League semi-finals – losing to Liverpool only last year – there was no European swagger from the hosts and they struggled early on.

As manager Quique Setien conceded after, the should have ended the first half one up after a dominant spell before the break but the ever reliable goalie Dmitrievski and a defence run by the formidable Catena, who should be at a big club, kept them out.

Half-time came and we finally got the Valenciano version of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine over the PA.

Rayo, who play as though 1-0 is always on their mind, then capitalised in the second half. Oscar Trejo slipping striker Camello into a one on one.

Camello, who I’ve only ever seen play badly and who hardly gets a pass, took his chance well and, with the home keeper Jorgensen out of position, cracked it home after 70. He’s obviously a bit better than I thought!

Rayo defend like several packs of dogs – like no team have ever defended before – and Villarreal were always going to struggle to equalise. Even nine minutes added time was not enough.

And, strangely, the papers are talking up Rayo’s chances of European football next year if they finish top six. They’ve sniffed the air this season with friendlies at Man U last August and at Newcastle just before Christmas.

A fanciful thought, but this win seems to bode well for the future and Rayo could well be in for a rare long run in the top flight.