European Champions League

Aalborg 2 - Villareal 2

Aalborg: Zaza; Bogelund (Nielsen 74'), Jakobsen, Olfers, Pedersen; Enevoldsen, Augustinussen, Johansson, Due; Curth (Saganowski 71'), Caca (Risgaard 78'). 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila; Cazorla, Marcos Senna, Edmilson (Bruno 64'), Pires (Mati Fernández 64'); Llorente (Guille Franco 46'), Rossi. 4-4-2.

Goals:
0-1. 41. Rossi. Picked up Pires pass and cut in past defender to shoot past Zaza.
1-1. 54. Curth. Latched on to Caca back-heel pass and fired shot past Diego.
1-2. 75. Franco. Controlled Cani lofted pass on chest and poked shot past Zaza.
2-2. 81. Due. Struck free kick over wall and in to near top corner from right of area.

Villarreal just need one point from the next two matches to ensure a place in the knockout stage after drawing 2-2 at Aalborg. Since they last played a fortnight ago, local coach Bruce Rioch had been fired and Allan Kuhn had taken over. And his side started well, with Diego López in action early on to keep out Curth and Due. Marcos Senna and Llorente tested Zaza at the other end however, and with four minutes to go to the break Rossi gave Pellegrini's side the lead twice, picking up a pass from Pires and cutting in past two defenders before firing an angled shot past the keeper.

The locals equalised though a few minutes after the interval, Curth lashing a shot past Diego López after Caca had set him up with a clever back-heel. The visiting keeper had to be at his best to save from Bogelund a few minutes later, but with a quarter of an hour to go substitute Guille Franco put Villarreal back in front, controlling Cani's lofted pass on his chest before poking a shot past Zaza. But Aalborg didn't give up, and once again they came back to equalise, Due finding the near top corner of the net with a well struck free kick with ten minutes to go.

The draw between Celtic and Manchester United in the other group game meant that Villarreal stay level with the English side at the top of the group, and a point each when they play each other in the Madrigal stadium in three weeks' time would be enough for both to qualify.