Villarreal 1 - Lille 0

Villarreal: Viera; Kromkamp, Gonzalo Rodríguez, Peña, Arruabarrena; Marcos Senna, Josico; Riquelme, José Marí (Guayre 59'), Sorín (Héctor Font 36'); Diego Forlán (Roger 83'). 4-2-3-1.
Lille: Sylva; Vitakic, Tavlaridis, Tafforeau, Chalmé; Dumont, Bodmer; Lichtsteiner (Moussilou 70'), Makoun, Dernis (Acimovic 60'); Odemwingie (Mirallas 75'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 67. Guayre. Picked up pass from Héctor Font and rounded keeper to score.

A goal midway through the second half from substitute Guayre was enough to give Villarreal a 1-0 win over Lille, securing them a historic top spot in their group. All four sides in group D started the day with a chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages, although the Spaniards were the better placed and only needed a draw to go through. Pellegrini could count on Riquelme and Forlán after both returned from injury, and Viera was back in goal after Barbosa had taken over for the last two games.

The French side really needed a win though to be sure of qualifying, and they got off to a lively start with Dumont shooting just over the bar in the first minute. Forlán tried his luck a couple of times without much success, but Dumont and Odemwingie both caused problems for the local back four later in the half and only some solid defending from Gonzalo and Peña kept them out.

The intensity of the game was taking it's toll, Arruabarrena, Lichtensteiner and Senna all going off for treatment, and Sorín having to be replaced by Héctor Font before the break. The young winger picked up a pass from Riquelme to fire a shot over the bar in Villarreal's best attack just before the interval, seconds after Odemwingie had missed a good chance at the other end.

The home side stepped up the pace after the restart, Peña testing Sylva with a header from Riquelme's corner and Senna shooting just wide. Pellegrini turned to forgotten man Antonio Guayre though (who was expected to move on this winter after playing little this season), and within six minutes his speed took him on to a Héctor Font through ball and past the keeper to score.

Visiting coach Claude Puel brought on two more attacking players soon after the goal, and one of the substitutes Mirallas brought a good save out of Viera. The keeper did well to stop a header from Tafforeau, and a few minutes later Dumont fired another shot against the crossbar.

But the Spaniards held on to take the three points and top their group, despite having only scored three goals in six games. Lille had to make do with the UEFA cup, but the big surprise came in Portugal, where Benfica's win over Manchester United took the locals through and left the English side out of Europe completely. Villarreal though take over the mantle from Deportivo as Spain's Cinderella team, and they await the draw in nine days time to see who they play next.