Villarreal vs Manchester United LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction tonight
Michael Carrick’s first game in charge sees United advance to the UCL knockout stages
Michael Carrick’s first game in charge of Manchester United saw the caretaker boss lead the club into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night, his players securing a 2-0 win at Villarreal.
Former United midfielder Carrick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dugout following the Norwegian’s sacking on Sunday, and the team’s performance here was similar to many showings under their now-ex-coach; United were disjointed for much of the game, before Cristiano Ronaldo did what he has done so many times this season by scoring late on to break the deadlock. Jadon Sancho then netted his first goal in a United shirt in the final minute, sealing the victory and securing the Red Devils a spot in the knockout stages of the competition.
It is unclear how long Carrick will be in charge of United, with reports suggesting that the club’s hierarchy could appoint a different interim coach until the end of the season before seeking a permanent successor to Solskjaer. Mauricio Pochettino has been linked to United, with our own Melissa Reddy reporting that the PSG boss could leave his current side to move to Old Trafford before next summer. However, Pochettino insisted on Tuesday evening that he is “so happy” in Paris. Follow all the fallout from United’s win against Villarreal.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
70 mins: Chance! Manchester United have pushed higher up the pitch since the substitutes have come on, they’re also seeing more of the ball.
Sancho receives the ball on the right wing and comes inside. He gives the ball to Fernandes and continues into the box. Fernandes slots the ball back to him with a superb through ball. Sancho shimmies to the left and hits a shot at goal but is denied but the Villarreal goalkeeper! Lovely move, Man Utd’s best of the night.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
67 mins: A bit of possession from United sees the ball come back to Maguire. He floats a long ball into the box as Rashford makes a run in behind. The flag stays down as Rashford looks to bring the ball under control. He’s met by Rulli who throws himself at the ball and smothers it. Then the offside flag goes up.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
64 mins: Moi Gomez wins another corner for Villarreal sending the ball out off a defending Sancho. It’s played short before Danjuma swings a cross into the middle. Lindelof deals with it and Manchester United make a couple of changes.
Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford are on with Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial off.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
61 mins: Man Utd can’t get control of the ball and Villarreal seem to be content to slowly pass it around and bide their time. The work it down the right side before feeding it to Gomez in the box. He lays it off to Trigueros who sends it wider to Danjuma. Wan-Bissaka is out of position again and Danjuma shoots but belts it over the crossbar.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
58 mins: SAVE! Massive save from David De Gea. United get done in midfield and Gomez drives the ball towards the box. His shot is blocked by Lindelof but the rebound drops for Trigueros on the right side of the area. He fires a shot of his own in the ground and De Gea leaps to his right to palm the shot wide of the far post. Great save!
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
55 mins: Villarreal knock the ball around easily enough, Manchester United aren’t pressing but instead are keeping a fairly solid shape limiting opportunities into the box. Moi Gomez makes a run off the ball but the pass into the penalty area is shepherded out of play by Lindelof.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
51 mins: Bruno Fernandes has been sent out to warm up by Michael Carrick. Is his arrival imminent?
Manchester United need some time on the ball, preferably in midfield. A nice one-two combination between Fred and Martial sees United beat the Villarreal press in the middle of the pitch and Martial threads it up to Telles bombing forward on the left wing. He sends a low cross into the box but can’t pick out Ronaldo and Albiol clears the danger.
Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
48 mins: The game is being played at snail’s pace until the ball comes to Moi Gomez. He turns and drives at the Manchester United backline before slipping it out to Pervis Estupinan who wins a corner on the left wing.
The set piece is swung into the middle of the box but Lindelof deals with it well enough.
Second half: Villarreal 0 - 0 Man Utd
Kick off: Villarreal get the match back underway. There hasn’t been any personnel changes at the break so it’s as you were for both teams.
Chelsea vs Juventus: Line-ups
Following the conclusion of Villarreal vs Man Utd we’ll be bringing you the action from Chelsea’s Champions League clash with Juventus. Here are the starting line-ups:
Chelsea XI: Mendy, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Chalobah, James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell, Hudson-Odoi, Ziyech, Pulisic
Juventus XI: Szczesny, De Ligt, Morata, Cuadrado, Alex Sandro, McKennie, Bonucci, Chiesa, Rabiot, Locatelli, Bentancur
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