Spain's Villarreal edged out Bulgarian visitors Levski Sofia with a 1-0 victory as striker Nilmar added to his recent hat-trick for Brazil with a 72nd-minute winner after good play out wide by substitute Giuseppe Rossi.
"We've got a good car - it's better than last year - I've got good team-mates (Dindo Capello and record seven-time winner Tom Kristensen) and we've had good preparation, so I'd say there is nervous anticipation, " he said.