Argentine midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme put Villarreal ahead from an 8th minute penalty-kick before Peter Lovenkrands equalized for the home side with a marvelous strike in the 22nd minute.

Diego Forlan regained the lead for the visitors in the 35th minute but was cancelled out by teammate Juan Manuel Pena who converted the ball into his own net with eight minutes left to play.

Champions League debutants Villarreal need a draw in the second-leg at home on March 7th to clinch their quarter-finals berth.

Rangers got off to a sloppy start as Croat striker Dado Prso handled a Riquelme corner-kick in the area for a penalty.

Riquelme, returning from injury, converted the resulting spot-kick to give the Yellow Submarines a shock lead.

Lovenkrands put Rangers at level in the 22nd minute when he rifled a brilliant shot home from the edge of the box.

Both teams had goals ruled out for off side before Forlan restored the lead for the visitors.

The Uruguay striker beat the offside trap and blasted home from close range after being set up by Gonzalo Rodriguez.

Villarreal squandered the win when Pena converted a Thomas Buffel cross past Viera for an own goal.