Champions League - United through despite draw

Eurosport - Wed, 26 Nov 09:31:00 2008

Manchester United were held to a 0-0 draw by 10-man Villarreal in their Champions League Group E tie at El Madrigal.

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

But the result - the fourth straight goalless stalemate between the two sides - saw United, along with their Spanish opponents, progress to the last 16 of the competition.

As is often the case, United winger Cristiano Ronaldo provided the most memorable moment of the game, the Portuguese winger's rasping drive at the end of the first half forcing Villarreal keeper Diego Lopez into brilliantly tipping onto the cross bar.

And then with eight minutes remaining Ronaldo again took centre stage, Joan Capdevila felling him with a nasty challenge which earned the Spain international a straight red card.

With one eye on the weekend's Manchester derby, United boss Alex Ferguson opted to rest several key players - Nemanja Vidic and Carlos Tevez started on the bench while Edwin van der Sar did not even make the trip to Spain - but the defending European champions started brightly.

Wayne Rooney, playing a lone striker's role but supported by Ronaldo and Nani, had the ball in the back of the net after just eight minutes, but his side-footed finish was ruled out for offside against Patrice Evra, who had bombed forward to deliver a cross from the by-line.

Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla brought a smart save out of Van der Sar's stand-in Tomasz Kuszczak before United came forward again, Darren Fletcher bringing Diego Lopez into action with a well-struck first time effort from the edge of the box on 35 minutes.

Lopez proved to be United's nemesis for the rest of the evening, his excellent positional play denying United on several occasions throughout the course of the game.

But his most crucial intervention came just before the half-time break, the former Real Madrid extending an arm to divert Ronaldo's fierce drive onto the woodwork and behind for a corner.

It was to be United's best chance of the game as Rooney - excellent after the break - and Ronaldo were left frustrated for much of the evening.

Only Rooney really tested Diego Lopez again, the England striker's first time shot on the turn from Michael Carrick's through pass giving the hosts a fright on 66 minutes.

In the end, it was a deflected Rooney cross that nearly proved the decisive moment of the match, his ball into the box looping up over the keeper, only to be headed off the line by Capdevila.

Capdevila did not last too much longer after his lunge at Ronaldo on 82 minutes resulted in dismissal and, despite the entrance of Tevez as time ran out, United could not find a way to break down Villarreal's back line.

But despite United's failure to score, the Group E leaders will now head into their final match - at home to AaB Aalborg - as favourites to progress as group winners.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

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  1. Alex i was at villa park too and as for your comment of­ ronaldo being on the floor all the time that may have­ something to do with the amount of rugby tackles put in­ on him ! yes the bloke does dive at times but dont get­ carried away the fact is he spends most of his time­ being wrestled to the floor by defenders who have no­ other way of stopping him . as for hatein Utd fans from­ Brighton get a life mate i know 2 supporters down south­ who make it to every home and away game every week and­ have done for 20 yrs but i guess they are glory­ supporters too !

    From Eagle3777, on Tue 25 Nov 10:07PM

  2. man utd is the best club in the wrld so get ­ over it.

    From eyohas, on Tue 25 Nov 10:06PM

  3. Alex i was at villa park too and as for your comment of­ ronaldo being on the floor all the time that may have­ something to do with the amount of rugby tackles put in­ on him ! yes the bloke does dive at times but dont get­ carried away the fact is he spends most of his time­ being wrestled to the floor by defenders who have no­ other way of stopping him . as for hatein Utd fans from­ Brighton get a life mate i know 2 supporters down south­ who make it to every home and away game every week and­ have done for 20 yrs but i guess they are glory­ supporters too !

    From Eagle3777, on Tue 25 Nov 10:04PM

  4. biggest with the biggest dept, WHO,S THE RICHEST­ THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    From TEVEZ, on Tue 25 Nov 9:55PM

  5. 52 - I completley agree with you. Im a villa fan and­ saw the game on Saturday. Ronaldo is such a cheat its­ unreal, hes on the floor more than hes playing. Man Utd­ just dont have the team they used too. I also hate­ people who support Man Utd who live in Brighton !!

    From alex.austin, on Tue 25 Nov 9:54PM

  6. biggest with the biggest dept, WHO,S THE RICHEST­ THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    From TEVEZ, on Tue 25 Nov 9:54PM

  7. ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haa ha ha 0-0!!! ha ha ha ha­ ronaldo faked injury wat a gay player

    From scumyspurs, on Tue 25 Nov 9:53PM

  8. I am not a fan of anyone but I put this game on as it­ appealed more than Arsenal. What a bore it was and I­ did not have a bet when all the pundits got this right.­ Ronnie was going into a dive and a roll before the guy­ hit him if you watched the slomo. This is what he does­ most of the time. He must have wrapped up the Real deal­ before the game as apart from the shot he pouted around­ and complained about everything all the time. You can­ always tell when the crowd do not appreciate it any­ more. Contrast that with Rooney who ran his guts out­ all night and should have been rewarded for his efforts­ with a strike. Worrying times for MU who cannot seem to­ score when it should be 3 a game. I bet the Oasis boys­ are rubbing their hands at the prospect of Saturday.

    From taff, on Tue 25 Nov 9:53PM

  9. biggest with the biggest dept, WHO,S THE RICHEST­ THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    From TEVEZ, on Tue 25 Nov 9:52PM

  10. She's only the #1 Gay pin-up.

    From Wild 4 U, on Tue 25 Nov 9:51PM

  11. Filya puta: ... your obviously a moron he cant hack­ todays game !!! of course not i mean u must be right ,­ whats he done he only scored 42 goals last season , and­ top scorer for Utd this season , voted best player in­ the world , best player in the premier league last­ season , but nope he canr hack football ! go get a life­ you @#$% and dont talk @#$% . the vilareal player was­ sent of for going in studs first and catching him above­ the knee. Ronaldo may not do himself any favours with­ his over reacting but as for the @#$% u come out with­ ...... shutup moron .

    From Eagle3777, on Tue 25 Nov 9:50PM

  12. shut it man u the best

    From rosieburton, on Tue 25 Nov 9:49PM

  13. To all those that complained about Gerrard being a­ cheat against Atletico, well check out Rooney tonight,­ he tried to get a penalty from a foul that never­ was!...So what have people got to say about that then?

    From Raaj, on Tue 25 Nov 9:47PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    So i was right! she faked injury.......Time you mancs­ smelt the coffee your girl ronaldo can't hack it­ todays game!....The slightest touch on her and she­ screams..hope her injurys are real tonight.

    From filya puta, on Tue 25 Nov 7:05PM

  15. I think its more important to stop MR PLATINI, he is­ trying to destroy our game/league by any means. I think­ he is a RACIST, what do you think?

    From orr790, on Tue 25 Nov 6:40PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i love you ronaldo

    From meshododyas86, on Tue 25 Nov 6:11PM

  17. Well Ronaldo CONGRATULATIONS!! now @#$% off ok?

    From Nathan, on Tue 25 Nov 6:00PM

  18. Ahh!! Has football really left you this bitter? It is a­ sport that should inspire us and we should should aim­ to improve all the the time, not be jealous that other­ teams are far better than your team. I think if you­ hate Man U this much you may have to get used to a long­ unhappy spell as a supporter. Many players will come­ and go but the club is still going to win trophies that­ is why they have the league cup for the rest of you.­ Good luck

    From martingetonwonford, on Tue 25 Nov 4:50PM

  19. To P.Lynch. I may have been to busy laughing, but I­ missed out on reading which is the team you­ support.
    better red................

    From ron c, on Tue 25 Nov 4:40PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The little cheat will be off in the summer, and Tevez­ will be off by then or even in January. Brian H were­ you at all angry at his complete lack of loyalty and do­ you not cringe everytime he falls over? The­ 'biggest club in the world' has incredible debt­ even in this age where almost all clubs are in the red.­ The Glazers will not hesitate to sell him for 60 odd­ million and will not pay 30-35 mil for Tevez who looks­ disenchantde about being booted to the bench in favour­ of the self-indulgent Berbatov. United have a very­ soft centre, i.e midfield that should be strengthened­ but will not be. This Utd side (compared to the Utd­ sides of years ago) are incapable of winning hard games­ (i.e tough slog matches) it seems and will win nothing­ this season, then you lot can go support Chlsea or­ however are the Champions this season.

    From p.lynch1, on Tue 25 Nov 3:55PM
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