Lille 0 - Villarreal 0

Lille: Sylva; Lichtsteiner, Plestan, Schmitz, Tafforeau; Debuchy, Makoun, Bodmer (Dumont 46'), Acimovic (Dernis 84'); Moussilou (Fauvergue 73'), Odemwingie. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Viera; Kromkamp, Quique Alvarez (Gonzalo Rodríguez 56'), Peña, Arruabarrena; Riquelme, Josico, Tacchinardi, Sorín (Marcos Senna 46'); Figueroa, Diego Forlán (Guayre 84'). 4-4-2.

Goals: None.

Villarreal were technically superior to their French opponents but came away with another scoreless draw in the Champions League. The match took place in the Stade de France. Lille had to make the 200km trip to Paris as their ground does not comply with UEFA regulations.

The 'home' side created a chance in the opening minute when Moussilou shot into the side netting from a good position. Makoun was lucky to escape without a yellow card in the 12th minute after a badly timed tackle on Tacchinardi. Yet, it was the former Juve star that found himself in the ref's book minutes later.

Midway through the first half Lille thought they were on their way to sinking the Yellow Submarine. Moussilou was proving a handful for Villarreal with his pace and tricks but he was a yard offside when he found the net. After more Moussilou magic in the midfield, Odemwingie finished off a three-man move. Again the assistant's flag was up to deny the French side.

Villarreal almost took the lead just before the half-hour when Riquelme's curling free kick hit the outside of the post. Lille were a bit lucky to still have eleven men on the park at that point. Rafael only saw yellow for clipping Forlán who was bearing down on goal.

Riquelme was finding space to create and a chipped pass left Figueroa with only the keeper to beat. Sylva blocked the shot and Forlán just failed to cash in at the far post.

The second half was again evenly balanced with Lille always dangerous thanks to their more direct play. Odemwingie turned Peña inside out in the 55th minute before striking the underside of the bar. A few minutes earlier Villarreal had come close when Figueroa's netbound header was tipped over.

With twenty minutes to go Viera punched away a Makoun header. But the Lille player will be disappointed not to have done better with a free header. Villarreal's best chance of the half fell to sub Gonzalo. He nodded another Riquelme free kick wide of the target.

So an away point for Villarreal but this is the sort of game they might have to win if they are serious about making the knockout stages of the competition.