Villarreal lose to the English side in a match where the Yellows dominated
Villarreal lost to Manchester United at the Estadio de la Cerámica (0-2). A Cristiano Ronaldo goal, capitalising on a mistake from the home side playing out from the back, and another from Jadon Sancho at the very end, meant the Yellows suffered a harsh defeat. The Submarine put in a good performance and were better than their opponents for the majority of the game.
The Estadio de la Cerámica saw a real UEFA Champions League afternoon against Manchester United. No Yellows fan wanted to miss out one of the most exciting moments of the season. Two hours before the match, the ‘sold out’ sign was put up in the ticket office, announcing that the stadium was going to be full. And it was rocking. More than 21,000 fans cheered on the Submarine in their important match against the English side.
Villarreal took to pitch bravely, wanting to take control of the game and going up against one of the biggest sides in European football. Before the tenth minute, Moi Gómez and Yeremy Pino both warned David de Gea with two clear goalscoring chances. Moi was denied by a great save by the Spanish keeper, while Yeremy’s shot from the right went into the side netting.
The Submarine once more pushed forward halfway through the first half. Yeremy got away from Harry Maguire, and played the ball back to Manu Trigueros, who shot first time. De Gea made a fantastic save to deny him. The goalkeeper made a third great save to keep the English side in it.
It was 0-0 at half-time. Villarreal went into the tunnels after an impressive first half where they dominated play and chances.
The second half started the same way as the first half ended, with the Yellows in charge. In the 59th minute, De Gea once more had to save from Trigueros, making a great stop at full stretch to deny the Submarine. The fans were carrying Villarreal, who were putting the Red Devils’ goal under pressure.
From the 70th minute, the game changed and Manchester United took control. In the 71st minute, Gero Rulli made a great save to deny Sancho, with the first real chance for the away side.
Manchester United then made the most of an error from Villarreal playing it out from the back to go ahead on the scoreboard. The English side won the ball back in Villarreal’s half, and Ronaldo lobbed Rulli.
In the 90th minute, Manchester United scored again. This time on the counter attack. Sancho ended a great move. Without having to do much, the away side got the three points at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Lineups:
Villarreal CF: Rulli; Foyth, R. Albiol, Pau, Estupiñán (Raba, m. 79); Capoue, Parejo, Trigueros (Alberto M., m. 73); Moi Gómez (Dia, m. 84), Yeremy (Chukwueze, m. 73), Danjuma.
Manchester United: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; Van de Beek (Bruno Fernandes, m. 66), McTominay, Fred; Sancho (Mata, m. 93), Ronaldo (Matic, m. 92), Martial (Rashford, m. 66).
Goals: 0-1. Min. 77: Ronaldo. 0-2. Min. 90: Sancho.
Referee: Felix Brych (Germany). Booked: Yeremy (Villarreal CF), Van de Beek (Manchester United).
Matchday information: Matchday between Villarreal CF and Manchester United, corresponding to Matchday 5 of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League season at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
