MOTHERWELL seem destined to extract only experience from Europe this season and much of that commodity can be categorised under the heading of painful.

A 5-0 aggregate defeat against Panathinaikos was followed last night by a dispiriting loss to a Levante side who were highly competent rather than spectacular and yet won comfortably.

It means the Champions League is now but a memory for the Fir Park side and the Europa League will be placed in the same file after the return trip to Valencia next week. Goals from Juanlu and Nabil El Zhar ensure that domestic matters will be the sole concern for Stuart McCall and his players this season.

The goal from which the side from Valencia took the lead provided an experience for Motherwell that rankled with the supporters and irritated their manager. The second ruthlessly exposed the Fir Park defence, taking the tie beyond redemption. They were stark reminders of the gulf that remains between Scottish clubs and Europe.

Celtic are the only Scottish side to win a European tie this season. Motherwell never threatened to join them in this achievement last night.

A crowd of more than 6000 watched a chilling reality unfold after a summer of hope and even expectation for the Fir Park side. Motherwell enjoyed periods of parity but never dominated the match. The two-goal margin told a truth that could not be denied and it could have been widened after the red card given to Shaun Hutchinson. The goals were both a punishment and a lesson for Motherwell.

There were unjustified complaints at the first and an angry resignation at the second. The opener came after 42 minutes after fans had shouted loudly for offside as Christian Lell's long ball from the right sailed towards a forward-running Theofanis Gekas in an offside position. However, the Greek checked out, allowing the pass to drift to Juanlu, sprinting from deep, who finished solidly. The Motherwell defence stood, hands in the air, as the Spanish side celebrated to a chorus of boos.

The second came in the 62nd minute when Lell was given too much room on the right to swing in a cross that El Zhar finished with certainty.

These were the definitive moments of a night of ultimate disappointment for Motherwell. McCall had set his side the task of stretching Levante on the wings and overpowering them in the centre of attack. The visitors shrugged off these increasingly frantic attempts and imposed themselves.

It was hardly unexpected. A team that distinguished itself in La Liga last season was not likely to crumble in the face of just speed and strength. Motherwell had to find finesse and it eluded them last night. Levante coped comfortably with the passion and the energy of Motherwell. Nicky Law, just once, found a pass to cause some anxiety in the second half but it was hit tamely by Henrik Ojamaa, who does not resemble the player who excited the crowd and disturbed a succession of defences last season.

He was not alone in disappointing supporters. Jamie Murphy and Chris Humphrey could not exploit room out wide, with the latter being profligate when he escaped down the right, producing crosses that doubled as pass backs to the untroubled Keylor Navas. Michael Higdon found David Navarro a mountain he could not conquer.

Thus neutered in attack, Motherwell faced irresistible pressure from a Levante side who were allowed to stretch into the match, only their second competitive contest of the season.

There were early nods to that McCall strategy of pressurising an ageing Levante defence but this was a night when experience not only told, it shouted. After an even opening, Levante settled and left Motherwell struggling.

Gekas was industrious and sharp in attack and posed constant questions. He should have scored in the second half, being denied by a desperate lunge by Darren Randolph but he extracted a price of some sort from Motherwell when a run towards goals was halted by Hutchinson who was sent off. The subsequent free-kick saw Jose Barkero's deflected shot well saved by Randolph but this was an act of defiance. The damage had been inflicted and in an understated style.

Motherwell could only grasp at hints of consolation on a night of disappointment. Randolph was blameless, Adam Cummin is a strong, talented defender whose robust tackle caused Nikolaos Karabelas to leave the field injured in the first half.

It was typical of the hosts' night that he was replaced by El Zhar who sealed the match and the tie. McCall made changes bringing on Bob McHugh, Fraser Kerr and Stuart Carswell. But these were gestures rather than game-changers.

Motherwell simply did not have enough to trouble Levante. There is no surprise in that and there is no shame either. The adventure is over but the formality in Valencia has still to be observed. It only offers the promise of more pain.