Manchester United created another glorious European night at Old Trafford; as Cristiano Ronaldo's 95th minute winner right at the death rescued what was looking an increasingly disparate notion for United in this season's Champions League quest.
We saw the makings of another classic European night; two teams going head-to-head in a chess game of sorts; the brilliance and sophistication of this competition that we love so much. Villareal; the reigning Europa League champions who beat this United team in the final; are about as hard a team as you could play; with organisation and chemistry oozing from their seams in the likeness of one of the best managers Unai Emery.
We saw again how they controlled and suppressed the game; with midfield engine-man; former Spurs legend Etienne Capoue running the show; aided & abetted by former Valencia kingpin Dani Parejo. We also saw their immense backline; marshalled superbly by the veteran Raul Albiol & Pau Torres. We saw how they carved United up in the first half; notably through the left side with former Bournemouth man Arnaut Danjuma getting particular joy against United's reserve right-back Diogo Dalot; who looked helplessly out of pace. United fans must surely have been longing for the tough-tackling talents of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in this case.
It looked like the inevitable happened early in the second half; as another Danjuma cross was prodded home this time by star striker Paco Alcacer. With United staring at two opening defeats in the Champions League; the mood in the crowd was restless. It looked like they needed Usain Bolt's pace out on the flanks when the man was sitting in the stands.
Even when they equalised through a well-worked Alex Telles screamer; it still seemed almost like United were lucky to get back. In the end; it took a shocking misjudgment from star defender Torres; who until then had a steady game; leaving the ball for the 'keeper when he should have cleared it; allowing substitute Lingard to prod on for Ronaldo's late heroics.
It did seem that Villareal had total control of this game; and it seemed like the baffling substitutions of Emery; first taking off Alcacer for Boulaye Dia; then Yeremy Pino; Manu Trigueros & Alberto Moreno; only served to de-stabilise the team; with them losing control and eventually the destiny of this fateful match.
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