UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Villareal 0 Manchester Utd 0:NOTHING DIVIDED Villarreal and Manchester United like their treatment of Cristiano Ronaldo last night. Indulged by his employers, targeted by the enemy, the Portuguese was the centre of controversy once again as both teams booked their place in the knockout phase, trading insults and injuries as they did so.
Ronaldo had arrived in Spain exonerated by his manager, Alex Ferguson, for reacting to taunts from crowds. There is nothing Ferguson can do to protect his prized asset from opposition studs, however, and the fourth successive goalless draw between these teams had developed into a painful affair for Ronaldo long before Joan Capdevila received a straight red card in the 82nd minute for a knee-high challenge on the winger. Two other Villarreal players were also booked for fouls on the United number seven.
It is through driving into this small, isolated town that the Villarreal manager Manuel Pellegrini's achievement is truly impressed on the outsider. The football club's 25,000-seater stadium is the most imposing building, yet two Champions League and three Uefa Cup qualifications have been delivered.
The Villarreal team has undergone a transformation since United's previous visit, in 2005, with only two of the side that started when Wayne Rooney received a red card from Kim Milton Nielsen - Gonzalo Rodriguez and Marcos Senna - present from the off last night. But the Spanish club proved a formidable barrier once again.
Despite a promising opening from United, especially down the left through Nani, Anderson and Patrice Evra, they were restricted to testing Diego Lopez from distance. The home defence held firm. United's best chance took 41 minutes to arrive but it was almost worth the wait as Rooney cushioned Anderson's cross-field ball into the path of Ronaldo, who unleashed a 25-yard drive towards the top corner. A finger-tip save from Lopez diverted the shot on to the crossbar.
The Villarreal goalkeeper also denied Ronaldo from a long-range free-kick towards his bottom right-hand corner and set pieces were frequent in a game littered with fouls and interruptions. Javi Venta and Sebastian Eguren were booked for lunging at Ronaldo's heavily-strapped ankles; Ariel Ibagaza was caught on camera digging his fingernails into the Portugal international's neck as he sat on the floor following another illegal block. The Italian referee, Roberto Rosetti, was also required to lecture Rooney and the former Arsenal winger Robert Pires for diving.
United were the more creative, Darren Fletcher failing to get sufficient power on a half-volley from the edge of the area. Tomasz Kuszczak was stretched only once in the first half, parrying Santi Cazorla's swerving effort.
The fractious atmosphere did not diminish with half-time and within eight minutes of the restart Rooney had indulged in theatrics once again in a vain attempt to win a penalty and Ronaldo had collected the fourth yellow card.
Rooney's indiscretion came as he seized on a Ronaldo shot that had been spilled at the front post by Lopez, and collapsed under the slightest touch from Fabricio Fuentes with the danger still alive for Villarreal. It was a needless act matched by Ronaldo's dissent when he moved the ball back at a Villarreal free-kick close to the home side's corner flag.
Villarreal were hampered by the withdrawal of the injured Senna at half-time and despite a brief flurry when the former United striker Giuseppe Rossi turned Rio Ferdinand inside the area and Capdevila almost connected with a fine cross from Cazorla, United threatened more.
Rooney chipped wide after good work by Fletcher and was thwarted by an instinctive save when he volleyed on the turn. Anderson sent two decent chances straight at the Spaniard, the second after Rooney and John O'Shea had combined to create an opening from 18 yards. The breakthrough almost arrived with 10 minutes remaining. Rooney was the instigator with a run from the left and his cross looped over Lopez courtesy of a deflection. With the ball sailing into the net Capdevila threw himself forwards to head off the line. His next lunge would not be so impressive.
• Guardian Service
VILLARREAL: Diego Lopez, Javi Venta, Rodriguez, Fuentes, Capdevila, Santi Cazorla, Senna (Bruno 46), Eguren, Pires (Fernandez 65), Rossi (Franco 78), Ibagaza. Subs not used: Viera, Edmilson, Cygan, Angel. Booked: Javi Venta, Eguren, Fuentes.
MAN UTD: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher (Gibson 80), Carrick (Tevez 86), Nani (Park 85), Anderson, Rooney. Subs not used: Foster, Giggs, Vidic, Rafael Da Silva. Booked: Evra, Ronaldo.
Referee: Roberto Rosetti(Italy).
