European Champions League

Manchester United 0 - Villarreal 0

Man Utd: Van der Saar; Gary Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Park Ji Sung (Ronaldo 62'), Fletcher, Hargreaves (Anderson 62'), Nani; Tévez (Giggs 81'), Rooney. 4-4-2.
Villarreal: Diego López; Angel, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila; Edmilson, Eguren; Cani (Cazorla 46'), Mati Fernández, Pires (Ibagaza 66'); Guille Franco (Llorente 76'). 4-2-3-1.

Goals: None.

Villarreal seem to like Old Trafford, and they got their Champions League campaign off to a good start with a 0-0 draw against hosts Manchester United. The English side had not dropped a point in the competition at their home ground since they last played the Spaniards three years ago, but once again they were frustrated by Pellegrini and his men.

It was a fine defensive performance from Villarreal, although they were lucky to be let off a couple of penalty appeals in the first half, especially when Eguren tripped Park in the area, and Diego López did well to save from Tévez shortly before the break.

The visitors had hardly created a chance up to that point, but Guille Franco should have scored soon after the restart after a quick passing move split open the local defence, the Mexican striker hitting the post with a fancy back-heel when it would have been easier to stroke the ball in to the net.

Otherwise though Manchester dominated, Tévez having a shot cleared off the line by Gonzalo with López beaten, and Evans heading against the post from a cross by Cristian Ronaldo, who came on to rapturous applause later on. Villarreal had what they came for though, and with Celtic and Aalborg drawing 0-0 in the other group game everything is back at square one.