Villarreal: Diego López; Angel, Gonzalo,
Godín, Capdevila; Cazorla (Cani 90'), Marcos Senna, Eguren, Pires (Bruno
83'); Llorente, Rossi (Ibagaza 77'). 4-4-2.
Celtic: Boruc;
Wilson, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Scott Brown, Hartley (Vennegoor of Hesselink
82'), Robson, Nakamura (Robson 74'), Maloney (McDonald 72'), McGeady; Samaras.
4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 67. Marcos Senna. Curled free kick over defensive
wall inside near post.
Villarreal are well on the way to a place in the next round after a 1-0 victory against Celtic. The Scottish side have a reputation as one of the worst away sides in the competition after only taking one point from 17 games, and they were outgunned right from the start by Pellegrini's side. Llorente poked a shot over the top in the second minute, Cazorla, Marcos Senna and Llorente all failed to find the target, and Boruc did well to save from Rossi and Llorente.
The visitors didn't reply until McGeady shot wide midway through the first half, but just before the break a mistake by Godín let Samaras through, Diego López doing well to stop the striker's shot as he advanced on goal. McManus almost beat the keeper with a back-heel flick following a corner soon after the restart, but Rossi shot just wide of the post after a good run, and Cazorla and Senna both put Boruc to the test again with long shots.
Villarreal finally took the lead however with a well struck Senna free kick twenty minutes or so in to the second half. Substitute McDonald could have equalised when he struck a first time volley just over the bar, but Llorente should have added to the scoreline when his first shot was blocked by McManus and his follow up was saved by Boruc. And the keeper did well again in the last minute to tip a long shot from Cazorla around the post. The locals had done enough for a win though which means they share top spot with Manchester United, and they now have a double header against Aalborg in October.