All eyes on Manchester United and whether the turmoil that cost the manager his job just days ago could also cost the team a spot in the lucrative UEFA Champions League knockout rounds.
Just two days after installing assistant Michael Carrick to take over for former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Man United have to face arguably the toughest trip of its Champions League group stage at Villarreal. The Spanish side outplayed Man United for large stretches in their first match at Old Trafford, only to lose 2-1 after heroics by Cristiano Ronaldo. Villarreal also beat Man United on penalty kicks to win the Europa League trophy in May.
Manchester United is top of Group F with two matches to play, but the margins are razor thin. It’s tied on seven points with Villarreal and only ahead by virtue of that victory in September. Italian side Atalanta (5 points) will be playing Swiss club Young Boys (3 points) and both will surely be rooting for a draw in Villarreal. A win for either Man United or Villarreal would guarantee passage to the Round of 16.
WATCH: Villarreal vs. Man United live on fuboTV
Sporting News will be following the Villarreal-Manchester United match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Group F standings
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Manchester United | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | +1 |
| 2. Villarreal | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | +4 |
| 3. Atalanta | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 4. BSC Young Boys | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | -5 |
Villarreal vs. Manchester United live score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Villarreal | 0 | — | — |
| Manchester United | 0 | — | — |
Goals:
(All times Eastern)
34th min.: Ronaldo’s shot on the set piece goes straight into the wall. Wasted opportunity from a good position.
33rd min.: Yeremy Pino brings down Man United’s Alex Telles to stop a run into the Villarreal box and he gets a yellow. Pino will miss Villarreal’s final group match in December.
30th min.: After a Man United corner kick was cleared, left back Alex Telles whips in a cross which Cristiano Ronaldo heads right at the ‘keeper. Man United looks to be most dangerous on set pieces so far.
27th min.: What a save by De Gea! Manu Trigueros from the right corner of the box fires on goal aiming for the far post, but De Gea is on his game and makes another save.
22nd min.: Cristiano Ronaldo gets heated after he gets pushed from behind near the Villarreal box. But no call forthcoming from the referee.
11th min.: Shout for a hand ball in the United box by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but the arm was tucked in. No call.
10th min.: Villarreal’s Yeremy Pino takes a shot toward goal that hits the side netting. He wanted that one back.
5th min.: And Villarreal responds with a left-footed Moi Gomez shot that David De Gea has to dive low to parry away. Villarreal controlling possession early on.
3rd min.: Chance for Man United. On an Alex Telles set piece into the box, the ball deflects to the back post, where Scott McTominay heads it against the side netting. Measured start to this one by both teams.
1st min.: After Man United players take a knee (Villarreal players did not), the match kicks off.
12:49 p.m.: There’s been a delay to start the match as the head referee works out communication issues with his head set. He needs to head into the locker room. This will take some time.
12:37 p.m.: Villarreal want to make some history in this game tonight:
12:36 p.m.: Carrick has already made his first two big decisions by sitting Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford:
11:45 a.m.: The Yellow Submarine is in good position to advance. Of the 81 possible permutations, 69 percent of them have them going through to the knockouts:
ANALIZADO AL MILÍMETRO EL GRUPO DEL @VillarrealCF ????????️:
81 escenarios posibles (4 partidos por disputar):
> El Villarreal se clasificaría en 56 de esos 81 casos (69%)
> El Villarreal caería en 22 de esos 81 casos (27%)
> En 3 casos se decidiría por goles (4%) pic.twitter.com/Rnhkx3UqZc— Fran Martinez (@LaLigaenDirecto) November 23, 2021
11:41 a.m.: Managerial change seems to follow Cristiano Ronaldo around:
Cristiano Ronaldo’s last 16 club appearances have come under four different managers (Pirlo, Allegri, Solskjaer, Carrick).
— Richard Jolly (@RichJolly) November 23, 2021
Villarreal vs. Manchester United lineups
Bad news for Man United: Villarreal will have the speedy Arnaut Danjuma (ankle injury) and midfielder Etienne Capoue (muscle injury) available and starting. However, last year’s top scorer Gerard Moreno is still out and new acquisition Serge Aurier is still not eligible.
Villarreal starting lineup (4-3-3, left to right): 13-Gero Rulli-GK — 12-Pervis Estupinan, 4-Pau Torres, 3-Raul Albiol (c), 8-Juan Foyth — 5-Dani Parejo, 6-Etienne Capoue, 14-Manu Trigueros — 15-Arnaut Danjuma, 23-Moi Gomez, 21-Yeremy Pino
Villarreal subs (11): 1-Sergio Asenjo-GK, 31-Iker Alvarez-GK, 2-Mario Gaspar, 22-Aissa Mandi, 24-Alfonso Pedraza, 17-Dani Raba, 18-Alberto Moreno, 20-Ruben Pena, 16-Boulaye Dia, 10-Vicente Iborra, 11-Samuel Chukwueze, 9-Paco Alcacer
In Carrick’s first match in charge, he’ll be without five starting-caliber players: Paul Pogba (thigh), Raphael Varane (hamstring), Luke Shaw (concussion protocol), Mason Greenwood (COVID-19) and Edinson Cavani (tendon). Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford start on the bench with Donny van de Beek taking the spot of Fernandes.
Manchester United starting lineup (4-2-3-1, left to right): 1-David de Gea-GK — 27-Alex Telles, 2-Victor Lindelof, 5-Harry Maguire (c), 29-Aaron Wan-Bissaka — 17-Fred, 39-Scott McTominay — 7-Cristiano Ronaldo, 34-Donny van de Beek, 25-Jadon Sancho — 9-Anthony Martial
Manchester United subs (10): 26-Dean Henderson-GK, 22-Tom Heaton-GK, 20-Diogo Dalot, 3-Eric Bailly, 31-Nemanja Matic, 18-Bruno Fernandes, 14-Jesse Lingard, 8-Juan Mata, 10-Marcus Rashford, 16-Amad Diallo
MORE: Updated Champions League group standings & schedule
How to watch Villarreal vs. Manchester United
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 23
- Time: 12:45 p.m. ET
- TV Channels: UniMas, TUDN
- Streaming: fuboTV, Paramount+
The match from the Estadio de la Ceramica will be broadcast live on TV on UniMas and TUDN. Both channels are available to be streamed on fuboTV, which is available to new users on a free 7-day trial.
The match will also be available in English for Paramount+ subscribers.
In Canada, the Champions League is available exclusively, live and on-demand, on DAZN. And DAZN offers new customers a 30-day free trial period.
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