European Champions League

Villareal 1 - Arsenal 1

Villarreal: Diego López; Ángel, Godín, Gonzalo, Capdevila; Cani (Mati Fernández 46'), Marcos Senna, Eguren, Ibagaza (Guille Franco 79'); Llorente (Pires 70'), Rossi. 4-4-2.
Arsenal: Almunia (Fabianski 27'); Sagna, Gallas (Djourou 43'), Touré, Clichy; Song, Cesc; Walcott (Eboué 78'), Denilson, Nasri; Adebayor. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 10. Marcos Senna. Picked up ball outside area and bent shot wide of Almunia.
1-1. 66. Adebayor. Overhead kick past Diego after controlling Cesc pass on chest.

A valiant performance by Villarreal in their quarter final tie against Arsenal, although in the end the 1-1 scoreline leaves Pellegrini's side with an uphill battle for next week's second leg in London.

The Spaniards got off to a strong start, Capdevila having a shot blocked on the line before Marcos Senna opened the scoring with an impressive shot from outside of the area. Nasri tested Diego López at the other end, and Fabianski (who had replaced the injured Almunia minutes earlier) responded with saves from Senna and Capdevila.

Villareal kept up the pressure for the rest of the first half, an Ibagaza free kick deflected for a corner which Eguren headed wide. But midway through the second half Adebayor silenced the local crowd when he controlled Cesc's long pass on his chest with his back to goal, and beat Diego López with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Nasri almost scored again a couple of minutes later, and Senna and Godín came close at the other end. But a disappointing result in the end, and Villarreal need to repeat their last round performance against Panathinaikos once again in the Emirates Stadium if they are to go through. With key players injured, that may not be so easy this time around?