United started their Champions League campaign against La Liga runners-up Villarreal. United’s starting eleven was:

Van der Sar
Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra,
Park, Fletcher, Hargreaves, Nani
Rooney, Tevez

Suprisingly, no Vidic, Brown or Giggs

United had a great opportunity in the 9th minute from the first corner kick in the match. Villarreal’s goal keeper Diego Lopez misjudged the corner and Rio Ferdinand was left wide open only to put the ball across the middle instead of blasting it in.

First 20 minutes of the match was all United. United completely dominated the midfield.

Park had the opportunity to do something really special in the 24th minute but just doesn’t have the flare or presence to change the course of a match. Fletcher killed himself to give him a great through ball with a big advantage and he just took to long, the defender easily stepped in front and blocked the shot

Tevez had a go right before the 30th minute to win a corner. A very powerful shot from just outside the 18.

At the start of the second half United stayed the same while Villarreal brought on Cazorla.

A huge roar and a round of applause were heard around Old Trafford as Cristiano Ronaldo began to warm up in the 55th minute

Park again shanked a shot in the 58th minute. Another example of why Park should be left on the bench. He is not a world class player. He is mediocre player playing with world class players and anytime that happens your obviously going to look better than you really are.

A huge scare for United as Franco attempts a back heal shot which just hit the inside of the goal post.

Ronaldo is on in the 62nd minute along with Anderson. For Hargreaves and Park. These are certainly two players that could change the course of any match. Suddenly United have new life.

Ronaldo’s first match of the 08/09 season and he was received with a standing ovation.

Villarreal made a sub in the 68th min, Ibagaza is on for Pires.

There was a great opportunity for United in the 72nd minute. Ronaldo provided a great through ball to Wayne Rooney who supplied a square ball that was just a little too hard for Tevez, who did manage to catch it and put it on goal. But it was Gonzalo of Villarreal who just hit it off the line.

Llorente for Franco in the 75th minute

A great header from Ronaldo in the 80th min. but it went wide. The brilliant ball was served by Nani.

Giggs was United’s 3rd and final sub for Carlitos Tevez in the 81st

A Beautiful ball from Ronaldo in the 84th minute across to Evans who hit a stupendous header that was denied by the post.

After 90 minutes the score ends at 0-0

The United team that ended the match should have started the match! With the exception of Giggs for Tevez!

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