Villarreal: Diego López; Javi Venta,
Gonzalo, Fuentes, Capdevila; Marcos Senna (Bruno 46'), Eguren; Cazorla,
Ibagaza, Pires (Mati Fernández 64'); Rossi (Guille Franco 78'). 4-2-3-1.
Man Utd: Kuszczak; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Carrick
(Tévez 85'), Fletcher (Gibson 79'); Cristiano Ronaldo, Anderson, Nani
(Park Ji Sung 84'); Rooney. 4-2-3-1.
Goals: None.
Villarreal drew 0-0 against Manchester United for the second time this season and the fourth in their brief history of meetings, a result which ensured both their place in the next round with a game to go. A defeat against the English side coupled with a win for Celtic would have meant a difficult visit to Glasgow for the last match, but a professional performance saw them through.
It was not without difficulties though, Rooney having an early goal ruled out for a borderline offside, and Diego López saving from Cristian Ronaldo and Fletcher and then tipping another shot from Ronaldo on to the crossbar. Cazorla tested Kuszczak with a long shot, but Diego was in action again to keep out Ronaldo either side of half time, and Rooney later in the second half.
Villarreal's only real chance after the break came from a dangerous Cazorla cross which nobody could get on the end of, and Capdevila did well to head the ball away from under the crossbar after Eguren deflected Roonet's cross towards his own goal. The Spanish international full back got himself sent off a few minutes later for a hard tackle on Ronaldo, but Pellegrini's side held on for a valuable point. As it happened they would have been qualified anyway as Celtic lost, but the draw at least keeps their hopes alive of finishing top of their group.