The Yellows put in a great performance, but a point slips away from them in added time
A painful defeat at Old Trafford (2-1). Villarreal lost to Manchester United after conceding a goal in the closing moments. The Yellows put in a great performance, going ahead through Paco Alcácer, but the English side turned the scoreboard around with goals from Alex Telles and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Manchester United started the match with a high tempo, pressing high and trying to stop the Submarine from playing the ball out from the back. Unai Emery’s side withstood the initial siege from the home side, and from the tenth minute, grw into the game, starting to take control.
Villarreal’s improvement coincided with the Arnaut Danjuma show. The Dutch winger was a nightmare for the Red Devils’ defence. Early on, he tested David de Gea with a powerful effort. Not long after, after a great piece of individual skill by the Yellows’ No.15, Alcácer headed towards goal, but de Gea was once more equal to it, with a great save.
Villarreal once more left off the home side just before the half-hour mark. Alcácer got on the end of a long Étienne Capoue pass, and after an error by Raphaël Varane, shot from the edge of the box. The ball went just wide. With the teams getting ready for half-time, it was Yeremy who tested de Gea. After a great run by Pau Torres, Manu Trigueros played the ball to the winger, who, after cutting inside, fired a low shot at goal that was stopped by the English team’s Spanish goalkeeper.
After an excellent first half, it was Villarreal who opened the scoring after the break. In the 52nd minute, the Submarine put together a lovely team move which ended in a goal by Alcácer. The Valencian striker sent the ball into the back of the net after a Danjuma cross from a move that also involved Dani Parejo and Trigueros.
Villarreal’s joy did not last long. Seven minutes after Alcácer’s goal, Manchester United replied, scoring the equaliser. After a set play, Telles scored a fantastic volley from outside the box. The Red Devils had made it 1-1.
After the goal, Manchester United stepped up and tried to complete the turnaround at Old Trafford. The Yellows knew how to dig in and stop the Red Devils’ attacks. In the closing stages, Boulaye Dia could have scored the winner for Villarreal after getting on the end of the rebound from a Moi Gómez effort. The Senegalese striker’s effort hit the opposition.
In the last minute of added time, Ronaldo scored the winner for Manchester United. An unfair result for a great Villarreal performance at Old Trafford.
Lineups:
Manchester United: De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Lindelöf, Alex Telles (Fred, m. 89); McTomminay, Pogba (Matic, m. 75), Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho (Cavani, m. 75), Greenwood (Lingaard, m. 89); Ronaldo.
Villarreal CF: Rulli; Foyth, R. Albiol (Mandi, m. 73), Pau, Alberto M. (R. Peña, m. 73); M. Trigueros (Estupiñán, m. 60), Parejo, Capoue; Yeremy (Moi Gómez, m. 73), Paco Alcácer (Dia, m. 58), Danjuma.
Goals: 0-1. Min. 52: Paco Alcácer. 1-1. Min. 59: Alex Telles. 1-2. Min. 95: Ronaldo.
Referee: Zwayer (Germany). Booked: Greenwood, Alex Telles, Ronaldo (Manchester United), Alberto Moreno, Yeremy, R. Albiol, R. Peña (Villarreal CF).
Matchday information: Game between Manchester United and Villarreal CF, corresponding to Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League group stage, at Old Trafford.
