Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winner earned Manchester United a 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Wednesday night as a resilient Villarreal side were denied a deserved Champions League point.
Prior to the Europa League final which Villarreal won on penalties, four Champions League meetings produced exactly zero goals, with goalless draws seeing the two sides share the points in the group stages in both 2005 and 2008.
On this occasion, David de Gea was the reason why the deadlock was not broken in the first half at Old Trafford, but Villarreal eventually took the lead in the 53rd minute through Paco Alcacer.
The goal woke United up, with Alex Telles’ superb volley finding the far corner before Ronaldo netted a late, late winner in the 95th minute.
After an early tester from Arnaut Danjuma, De Gea was forced to deny Villarreal’s No 15 for a second time when diving low to his left to make a stunning stop.
De Gea made another two superb saves before half-time, keeping out Paco Alcacer’s header and denying Yeremi Pino from close range.
Eight minutes into the second half, De Gea was beaten, but he was not to blame as Alcacer prodded home from Danjuma’s cross.
Fernandes flashed an early shot over with United in the ascendancy, but the opportunities dried up in the first half as the hosts failed to attack with any cohesion.
A sloppy misplaced pass which had Victor Lindelof running back somewhat summed up Fernandes’ opening 45 minutes.
When United trailed, Fernandes produced their first chance to equalise, but from distance his shot sailed wide.
Moments later, Fernandes teed up Telles for the leveller, lofting a free-kick from out wide towards the edge of the area and allowing the United left-back to do the rest.