Champions League - United held by Villarreal

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Sep 10:03:00 2008

Villarreal held Manchester United to a frustrating goalless draw in Group E as the holders got the defence of their Champions League title off to a disappointing start.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Champions League Manchester United Cristiano Ronaldo - 0

Not even the return of Cristiano Ronaldo - making his first appearance of the season as a second half substitute - could inspire United as the hosts dropped their first home points in the competition since the Spanish side last played at Old Trafford in the 2005-06 season.

Ronaldo was introduced in the 62nd minute to a warm reception from the United faithful, whose fondness for the forward has clearly not been affected by the summer's unsettling transfer rumours.

The stage was set for the Portuguese to make it a comeback to remember, but despite his best efforts - including a volley into the hands of Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez, a header wide of the post and an excellent cross from which Jonny Evans hit the woodwork late on - Villarreal succeeded in frustrating the holders, much like they did three years ago when they came away from Manchester with a similar scoreline.

Deprived of Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Carrick through injury and Paul Scholes through suspension, Alex Ferguson was forced to send out a much-changed side to the one that lost to Liverpool at the weekend.

In came Darren Fletcher, Nani and Ji-Sung Park while centre-half Nemanja Vidic dropped to the bench in favour of Evans and Gary Neville was preferred to Wes Brown at right-back.

But the unfamiliar line-up enjoyed far the better of the opening period by the time Ronaldo arrived his team-mates had already had two first-half penalty shouts turned down. At the other end the Liga side also hit the woodwork through Guillermo Franco's fine second half effort.

Park was the man twice brought down in the Villarreal box, first by Sebastian Eguren on the quarter-hour mark and then by a clumsy 38th minute Joan Capdevila challenge.

On both occasions referee Wolfgang Stark waved play on - and on both occasions television replays proved the German official to have made mistakes.

Prior to the first penalty shout, United had already threatened the visitors' goal, Rio Ferdinand getting to an Owen Hargreaves corner, only to fluff his lines after being unsighted by a floundering Lopez.

The Villarreal keeper looked shaky early on and Nani was the first to realise United may be able to capitalise. The Portuguese winger unleashed a long range effort soon after Lopez's flap from the corner and again the keeper showed a lack of composure, spilling the shot into the danger area in front of him. Fortunately for the visitors, the colour of the shirt the ball fell to was yellow, and not red.

Park then saw a shot well blocked by Edmilson after a neat interchange of passes between Fletcher and Nani had fashioned a shooting opportunity on the edge of the Villarreal box.

But as the half progressed, some semblance of confidence returned to Lopez, and by the time he was next tested - on the half-hour mark - he was equal to Carlos Tevez's well-struck 25-yarder.

Despite United's dominance of possession, Villarreal still managed to find a way through the hosts' defence - Robert Pires, the former Arsenal winger, tested Edwin van der Sar on 29 minutes with a crisp low strike, but it was never going to beat the Dutch keeper from such a tight angle.

News of Ronaldo's imminent return - confirmed by Alex Ferguson at the break - gave United a lift at the start of the second half, but before last season's top scorer in the competition could get on the pitch, the best chance of the game fell the visitors' way.

Indeed, Villarreal were unlucky not to take a surprise lead when Mexico international Franco's clever flick struck the inside of the far upright following a lovely, flowing passing move that had carved open United's defence.

It proved to be Villarreal's last real chance of note as United stepped up a gear following Ronaldo's introduction.

Evans saw a standing header go the wrong side of the post before the spotlight fell on Ronaldo in the 65th minute as a Tevez cross reached him near the penalty spot. But the substitute's timing was out and he miscued a first-time volley, hitting the ball into the ground and into the grateful arms of Lopez.

Minutes later Ronaldo was the architect of United's next attack, threading a pass through for Rooney to run on to. The England striker squared the ball to Tevez, but the Argentinian's poke past Lopez was cleared off the line by Gonzalo Rodriguez.

There was still time for one further chance to fall Ronaldo's way, a header from Nani's deep cross which flew wide of the mark but that, along with Evans's late effort off the post, rather summed up United's frustrating evening.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. Ingsmill22 (44)- it's never a good idea to pick people up on their spelling/literacy on a message board, and especially inadvisable if you're not going to proof-read your own post (or maybe you did it "quicky" on a stolen laptop?).

    From Thomas, on Thu 18 Sep 12:04AM

  2. Rubbish, Rubbish and Rubbish

    From Ferdy, on Wed 17 Sep 11:55PM

  3. Only the most biased Man U. fan could possibly believe that JT should have been red-carded. Oh that would be the Man. U. manager. The guy who walked onto the pitch talking to the referee after the half time break of the CL final !!!! how did he not get a ban for that ? Vidic should have been red-carded as he was the last man, and as for that 'tackle' what is he a cage fighter ? Man U. have owned referees for long enough. Sems to me that Man U. think they have a devine right to get every single decision. It was Villareal for goodness sake, Spurs could beat them!

    From ALAN, on Wed 17 Sep 11:53PM

  4. Mr Song claiming that 'Liverpool could not even get the ball' in yesterdays game. I suppose you watched Saturdays game and noticed that for 70 minutes that was very much the case for United. At the end of the day its results that matter, and we have got them so far this season, despite admittedly playing badly, which can only be a good sign. This is more than can be said for a toothless united team who were bullied off the park on Saturday, dropped points to a dire Newcastle side and couldnt score tonight at home against some European also rans.

    Face it, you are half the team without Ronaldo, and if I were a United fan I would be more than happy with a point against a strong looking Chelsea side without vidic at the back.

    From s.webber.889@..., on Wed 17 Sep 11:48PM

  5. man u is rubbish

    From oscar.vanto, on Wed 17 Sep 11:45PM

  6. The only great thing about Utd is their over inflated egos, what a load of rubbish their fans talk, see one blamed the referee yet again, didnt he help you with a charitable penalty or reduce the oppersition to less than 11 players, in order to assure you of a victory. Perhaps you failed with bribes or mabe Ferguson was unable to bully him verbally in his normal way. Sooner you lot are levelled the better for the sport. Man City will dump you again.

    From Sadoldgit, on Wed 17 Sep 11:27PM

  7. "god help us if the scousers manage to win the champions league this season....there,ll be thousands of hand made banners with six times and little trophy images on said banners....yawn."
    Ahhhhh touch of jealousy there, too lazy to make your own banners in a professional way they do? Nah! too much work for a proper supporter to do. You got a nice Surname though.

    From james, on Wed 17 Sep 11:19PM

  8. yeah flattley, you are right...arsenal were playing tonight but no-one interested in discussing them. i reckon people are more interested in chatting about english teams. on another point, i was at stamford bridge last night and was a little peeved to find that i was unable to get a beer at half-time!! Bit drastic that, considering the Champs league is part sponsored by Heineken...apparently there is ban on alcohol in all grounds for euro games.

    From boozola25, on Wed 17 Sep 11:18PM

  9. Man utd is recovering. should get a draw on Sunday.

    Liverpool is @#$%. their luck will soon end up. look at yesterday's match. they cannot even get the ball for the whole game. Come on, Stoke, prove they are nothing.

    From Song, on Wed 17 Sep 10:59PM

  10. god help us if the scousers manage to win the champions league this season....there,ll be thousands of hand made banners with six times and little trophy images on said banners....yawn.

    From m.fowler771@..., on Wed 17 Sep 10:43PM

  11. It is noteworthy that unwanted posts from Liverpoo fans are invariably riddled with spelling errors. Either the level of literacy indicates why they have poor appreciation skills in all walks of life or could be explained by the need to type quicky on a stolen laptop.You will always be a boring chav team and you know it.

    From Patrick, on Wed 17 Sep 10:40PM

  12. UP MAN U

    UP Man U

    From tyson82003, on Wed 17 Sep 10:36PM

  13. ali j the one whose gona get his response in may.....or on sunday...probably

    From tyson82003, on Wed 17 Sep 10:35PM

  14. It is noteworthy that unwanted posts from Liverpoo fans are invariably riddled with spelling errors. Either the level of literacy indicates why they have poor appreciation skills in all walks of life or could be explained by the need to type quicky on a stolen laptop.You will always be a boring chav team and you know it.

    From Patrick, on Wed 17 Sep 10:35PM

  15. ..I'm disgusted seeing some useless comments posted on here..
    say something intelligent people about the game...or something...how come suddenly you're posting rubbish on other teams..
    United where @#$%ed by the ref
    two true penalty calls none of them given...
    ..they played better than Villareal and should have won...
    chelsea next weeek
    terry(d cheat) is gonna play...
    united without Vidic..
    United will still win
    Up Man U

    From tyson82003, on Wed 17 Sep 10:34PM

  16. THERE IS ONLY ONE TEAM CHELSEA MUN U ARE C@@P AND THERE MANAGER SHOULD BE PUT OUT TO GRAZE AND LIVERPOOL ARE NOT MUCH BETTER

    From COL A, on Wed 17 Sep 10:15PM

  17. We've won it 5 times, we've won it 5 tiiiiimmmmeeeesssssss.
    LOL.

    From ALI J, on Wed 17 Sep 10:11PM

  18. kwijbo you knobhead who do you support then

    From andygeester, on Wed 17 Sep 10:11PM

  19. Your message has been correctly received, it may take a few days to appear

    From JONHBOY, on Wed 17 Sep 10:10PM

  20. man utd have had there day in europe now its liverpool turn

    From andygeester, on Wed 17 Sep 10:10PM
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