Man United seal Champions League progress with impressive win under caretaker boss Michael Carrick at Villarreal as Jadon Sancho FINALLY opens his account after Cristiano Ronaldo's opener

  • Manchester United reached Champions League knock-out rounds after 2-0 win over Villarreal 
  • Cristiano Ronaldo pounced with a superb lobbed finish 12 minutes from time after smart Fred pressing
  • Jadon Sancho scored his first Manchester United goal with a super strike in the final minute to seal the win 
  • Victory earned a place in the last-16 of the Champions League in caretaker boss Michael Carrick's first game
  • United had laboured in attack for much of the game but were rewarded for late push for victory  

Yes, he’s a big problem, Manchester United’s number seven.

He’s been a problem for Villarreal twice now, a problem for Atalanta and he’s a huge problem for those who would cast him as the villain of Manchester United’s season and architect of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s downfall. Somehow, amidst what is undoubtedly a crisis for the club, Cristiano Ronaldo’s finishing, his sheer determination to remain relevant on the biggest stage of all, has steered United into the Champions League knock-out stages – and with a game to spare.

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There will be no group stage cup final against Young Boys at Old Trafford on matchday six. Manchester United are through. It was never as easy as the table suggests, apart from Tuesday night perhaps. 

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring the opening goal for Manchester United in front of team-mate Marcus Rashford
With 12 minutes to play at Villarreal, Ronaldo lifted home a cool lobbed finish on the edge of the box to steer United ahead
Ronaldo shakes the hand of caretaker boss Michael Carrick following his substitution in stoppage time of the game

For while David De Gea made some excellent saves – two from Manu Trigueros were outstanding – United did what they set out to do. Michael Carrick, the interim’s interim or maybe the proud recipient of a new three-year contract, you never know around this place, set the team up to defend which they did rather well. Then, when he introduced the two most notable absentees from his starting XI after 66 minutes – Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford – their fresh attacking impetus changed the game.

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Villarreal had been the better team until that point. Suddenly, they looked vulnerable, as they had late on at Old Trafford. And it is at these moments that Ronaldo comes into his own. He senses that weakness, he reads the shift in narrative, and he steps up and wins.

And some very experienced football men at Old Trafford – well, one in particular – know that about him. Sir Alex Ferguson was keen for his return not because he sees the social media opportunity or the marketing dollars, but because he sees the footballer.

That’s why, on his advice and that of others, United seized a unique recruitment the opportunity when it arose; that’s why they were desperate to stop Ronaldo going to Manchester City, and that is why the player believes, at 36, he still has something to offer. Because he does. 

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Jadon Sancho wrapped up the Champions League victory for United with a rasping drive in the final minute of the game
The England forward's strike was his first goal for the club since £73million transfer from Borussia Dortmund in the summer

MATCH FACTS AND GROUP STANDINGS

Villarreal (4-2-4): Rulli, Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan (Raba 79), Capoue, Trigueros (Chukwueze 73), Parejo, Moi Gomez (Dia 84), Pino (Moreno 73), Danjuma.

Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Mario, Alcacer, Iborra, Pena, Mandi, Pedraza, Iker.

Booked: Pino.

Manchester  United (4-2-3-1): De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Alex Telles, Fred, McTominay, Sancho (Mata 90+3), Van de Beek (Fernandes 67), Martial (Rashford 67), Ronaldo (Matic 90+2). 

Subs: Bailly, Lingard, Diallo, Dalot, Henderson, Heaton.

Goals: Ronaldo 78, Sancho 90.

Booked: Van de Beek.

Referee: Felix Brych (Munich)

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He had two chances on Tuesday and scored one, which had the game won before Jadon Sancho’s late intervention. It was a moment of wonderful inspiration coupled with the coolest of executions. And no, as his critics maintain, Ronaldo is not what he was. But how many natural born goalscorers are, at his age? What remains would still lead the line at the majority of elite Champions League clubs, and is more than capable of making the difference on occasions such as this. 

The game was heading for stalemate – and still not United’s worst result in the circumstances – when, in the 78th minute, Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli played a dangerously poor pass to Etienne Capoue. Fred read it from way out, set off swiftly and nailed the former Tottenham man at the moment the trundling ball arrived. Capoue served it up, back towards his own goal and on the bounce. It fell to Ronaldo and his native brilliance did the rest.

He knew Rulli was off his line, knew the ball was hopping along invitingly, so he did the simple thing. He helped it on his way, lifting it up and over the helpless goalkeeper and into the net. Well, he made it look simple anyway. That’s what he does. He is the first player to score in the first five games of a Champions League campaign for an English club. Of course he is.

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By the end, mind, United were making everything look easy. The introduction of Fernandes, in particular, and Rashford changed the dynamic and credit to Carrick for that. Having set up United not to lose to that point, now they were cutting loose. 

Earlier in the second half, David De Gea made an excellent save to deny Manu Trigueros from giving Villarreal the lead
Sancho was also denied the opportunity to open the scoring for United a few minutes later in the tense and even encounter
United though became a much more attacking unit once they brought on Bruno Fernandes in the second half in Spain

Entering the final minute, Ronaldo set off on the counter finding Rashford and Fernandes, who moved the ball on to Sancho. He had a good game. Hard graft in the first-half, hard to contain in the second. This was his first goal for the club, the shot thundering off the underside of the bar, a real looker of a goal. It was no more than his performance deserved.

So a good night for United, but good for Carrick, too. Leaving out the big names was bold and United had more resilience than has been displayed in recent weeks. Is it a corner turned? Come on, how many times have we thought that from this group this season?

One of the biggest problems for Manchester United’s interim manager, or even the interim’s interim, is that certain players have got into so many bad habits under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that the flaws cannot be swiftly erased. Meaning when Ronaldo loses the ball – which happens, even to the best of them – and Juan Foyth skips around Anthony Martial to bring it out from the back, Martial shows all the enthusiasm for the chase that an aged, arthritic bloodhound might for a thrown stick. He doesn’t want to run anymore; he wants to be left alone.

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Later, put away on the left, Martial showed none of the pace that was once a great asset, doing a poor impersonation of a player who wanted to get a cross in, rather than delivering the real thing. He got there, just, but it took a little too much effort and he didn’t have the ball under control, failing to keep it in play. 

Sancho sits below a United free-kick wall in an attempt to deter Villarreal from playing a low shot with a free-kick
Ronaldo saw a second half header from an Alex Telles cross well saved during the Champions League encounter
The victory for United in caretaker Carrick's first game has put them in the last-16 of the Champions League

United can still be disappointing like that. At times, Villarreal seemed to be able to pass directly through the centre of their midfield, which was vacated, and Alex Telles is one of the modern breed of full-backs who makes a better winger. On two occasions, he was left utterly flat-footed in close proximity to goal and while his counter-attacking work was often the best of it for Manchester United early on, the bar remains low.

Fernandes has been United’s biggest creator of opportunities in Europe this season – four outright assists and 16 chances made, placing him at the top of the Champions League leaderboard in both fields after four games – and without him United struggled for invention accordingly.

Their best chances of the first-half came from two Telles balls into the box, 26 minutes apart. The first was a free-kick after four minutes which was aimed at Ronaldo but found Scott McTominay instead, steering the ball into the side-netting. He should have done better. A cross, on 30 minutes, picked out Ronaldo again, but he directed a tame header towards Rulli, gathering safely.

Not that Villarreal were at their best. They are well-organised by Unai Emery, we know that, but can go to sleep at times, sacrificing spark for safety. This was one of those games. Villarreal pressed high which makes United uncomfortable, but United sat deep which didn’t do Villarreal any favours, either. What separated them, ultimately, was the class of individuals. Sancho will be better for this. But he wasn’t the player whose name echoed into the night. There were no problems celebrating in the bars around La Madrigal, either.

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 RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENED...

  • Dan Ripley

    Host commentator

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19:44
FULL-TIME: Villarreal 0-2 Manchester United

Manchester United are through to the last-16 of the Champions League

19:43
Manchester United substitution

90+3min: And now Sancho departs to huge applause from the travelling United fans as he is replaced by Juan Mata.


19:42
Manchester United substitution

90+2min: In the second of three added minutes, Ronaldo makes way for Nemanja Matic before exchanging a hug with Carrick.

19:40
GOAL! Villarreal 0-2 MANCHESTER UNITED

90min: Fred with the hard work again! He wins the ball inside his half to start a counter attack, one that is clinically built down the left and eventually to the other side of the box for Jadon Sancho who blasts home high off the underside of the crossbar to score his first United goal.

19:39
Villarreal 0-1 Manchester United

88min: United are still looking comfortable here, so here's a chance to look at the finish which now sees them a couple of minutes from the last-16. As good as Ronaldo's finish is, much praise has to go to Fred too for this goal.

19:37
Villarreal substitution

85min: Ronaldo tries to take advantage of mishap at the back with a shot across goal just failing to have the power or accuracy to find the target, as Villarreal send on Boulaye Dia for Moi Gomez.

19:34
Villarreal 0-1 Manchester United

82min: Ronaldo has his critics, but that was a world class finish from the Portuguese veteran.

At the other end, Capoue heads over the crossbar - Villarreal really need to go for it.

19:32
Villarreal 0-1 Manchester United

79min: Villarreal instantly make a change as Pervis Estupinan makes way for Daniel Raba.

19:28
GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 MANCHESTER UNITED

78min: It's another late show for Manchester United! Rulli makes a mess of a clearance, with his short ball out robbed by Fred and his relentless pressing on a defender. The ball bounces once, falls for Cristiano Ronaldo and on the turn his lobbed finish from the edge of the box puts United on the cusp of the last-16.

19:27
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

76min: Those changes United have made have seen them take it up a notch. This is their best spell of the game now as they take charge of possession and chase a goal that would certainly put them into the last-16.

19:24
Double Villarreal substitution

73min: Yeremi Pino comes off for Villarreal as he makes way for Samu Chukwueze. Also former Liverpool full-back Alberto Moreno comes on for Manu Trigueros.

19:22
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

70min: United coming to life now. They are taking control of the ball, with Fernandes playing an excellent ball into the box for Sancho who with his foot on the trigger is tackled at the last possible moment. Looked destined to score too.

19:19
GOAL! DYNAMO KIEV 1-2 Bayern Munich

Hello, game on in Kiev as Denys Garmash has pulled a goal back for the hosts with 20 minutes to play.

19:17
Double Manchester United substitution

67min: Donny van de Beek makes way for Fernandes (below) while Rashford is on for Anthony Martial, a reversal of the changes from the defeat at Watford there.

19:14
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

63min: Their introduction needs to be sooner rather than later though, with Danjuma getting on the end of a low ball played across the box only to poorly fire over from about 16 yards.

19:13
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

61min: United look like they preparing a change or two here. Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes are getting a good talking too.

19:10
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

58min: Something happened! Villarreal counter down the left, with the ball eventually finding Manu Trigueros just inside the box. With a bouncing ball he strikes an effort into the ground across goal which David De Gea reads excellently to tip away at full stretch with this right arm. Even the Villarreal star has to congratulate the keeper for that save.

19:04
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

54min: Good from Fred. He answers my call. With a slight gap to shoot from 25 yards out, he does just that, albeit his effort is far too central and Geronimo Rulli makes a simple save.

Villarreal's Etienne Capoue (left) is challenged by Manchester United's Harry Maguire
19:03
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

51min: This game needs something. A goal obviously, but until then the next best thing we can ask for is a bit of tempo. This is being played like a 1980s Serie A match right now. So slow, so casual. It's going nowhere. It needs poking with a stick with the utterance "do something!"

18:58
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

48min: Neither side look particularly desperate to attack at the start of this second period. United are sitting off though and allowing the home side to take early control of possession.

18:55
SECOND HALF: No changes as we restart in Spain
Jadon Sancho of Manchester United lies behind a wall as Villarreal prepare to take a free kick
18:47
So far so good for Manchester United?

They don't really look like they have improved since getting rid of Solskjaer.- going forward at least. United though are looking comfortable at the back and a draw is a good result for them.

It could even see them through if Atalanta also draw with Young Boys later on. Still though... it's not been a great watch.

18:40
HALF-TIME: Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United
18:40
HALF-TIME: Dynamo Kiev 0-2 Bayern Munich
18:39
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

45+1min: Arnaut Danjuma now fires wide from a tight angle in the one additional minute.

18:38
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

44min: Villarreal are ending the half the stronger team here as Moi Gomez twists and turns on the edge of the box before his deflected shot bobbles wide and out for a corner - one United comfortably clear.

18:36
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

41min: Donny van de Beek hasn't done much so far, and he comes alive for all the wrong reasons with a poor one-footed lunge on Pervis Estupinan to earn him a booking and Villarreal a free-kick 25 yards out.

Daniel Parejo though clears the crossbar by quite a way with his effort.

18:33
GOAL! Dynamo Kiev 0-2 BAYERN MUNICH

Looks like Bayern Munich are going through as group winners then as three minutes before the break, Kingsley Coman doubles the advantage.

18:30
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

36min: Ronaldo though can only find the wall from the dead ball. This is United's best spell of the game though, although Fred needs treatment after appearing to role his ankle chasing down the ball.

Sometimes you can run these off, and that's what he will attempt.

Manchester United's forward Cristiano Ronaldo (centre) heads the ball towards the Villarreal goal
18:27
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

34min: First booking and it's for Villarreal's Pino who is now suspended for the final matchday in the group after sticking his arm out to prevent Telles running onto a through ball on the edge of the box. Ronaldo fancies a shot here...

18:25
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

31min: Half-chance for Carrick's team now. Telles's delivery has looked sharp this evening and his back post cross finds Cristiano Ronaldo who despite leaping high can only nod straight at Geronimo Rulli. A thumbs up from the forward towards his team-mate for that cross - it was a beauty. 

18:23
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

30min: Much better from United. It's not exactly fast tempo stuff but it is effective as Jadon Sancho collects a ball out wide, before his dangerous back post cross is nodded behind for a corner by Raul Albiol.

18:21
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United
27min: But that's a good save from De Gea! Manu Trigueros gets on the end of a byline cut-back, but the Manchester United keeper does well to leap across goal to his right to parry the ball out to safety.
18:19
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

24min: I've seen better games, I'll be honest. Villarreal have had 69 per cent of the ball but still they labour to do anything with it.

18:14
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

21min: A lack of finishing edge is costing Villarreal right now. They remain the better side but De Gea has still only had to make one save. Etienne Capoue plays in Pino inside the box, but his cross from the right is awful as he skies it straight out of play.

Villarreal's midfielder Daniel Parejo (left) vies with Manchester United's forward Cristiano Ronaldo

18:12
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

As you were in Spain. Villarreal just knocking the ball around without much purpose inside their own half, so here is how Lewandowski got out the acrobatics in Ukraine.

18:10
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

15min: Meanwhile in Spain, United can't get a kick. It's not relentless Villarreal pressure don't get me wrong, but this is not exactly the Manchester United way - even if a draw is a decent result for them.

18:07
GOAL! Dynamo Kiev 0-1 BAYERN MUNICH

I tired to sell Bayern Munich being in some sort of trouble as much as I could before kick-off, but they have typically taken the lead through a superb overhead kick from Robert Lewandowski.

The big news in Ukraine of course is the much loved orange ball in play, with snow in the air. 

18:05
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

9min: Another Villarreal chance. This time a deflected cross finds Yeremi Pino at the backpost, whose shot finds the outside of the side netting like McTominay earlier. He pulls his shorts up in frustration.

18:00
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

6min: Villarreal hit back though, Moi Gomez letting a low shot fly from the edge of the box that David de Gea does well to dive down low to his left and push away.

Manchester United's forward Anthony Martial (centre) looks to attack the Villarreal players
17:57
Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

3min: Early chance for Manchester United! They win a free-kick 30 yards out and Alex Telles outswings a cross towards the backpost which via a nodded clearance finds Scott McTominay who heads into the outside of the side netting.

17:53
KICK-OFF: Out comes the referee again!

The crowd give out the sarcastic cheers as is customary anywhere in the world for this type of situation before the game finally gets underway.

17:52

This is nonsense. The referee is going down the tunnel now! It looks like it's a communication issue and there is no link between the referee and his officials and/or VAR.

The game will go ahead, eventually but this is all rather silly...

17:50
A reminder of the team news ahead of kick-off

We still haven't kicked off here. There has been a five minute delay already due to some technical difficulties involving the referee.

Villarreal: Rulli, Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan, Capoue, Trigueros, Parejo, Moi Gomez, Pino, Danjuma.
Subs: Sergio Asenjo, Mario, Alcacer, Iborra, Chukwueze, Dia, Raba, Moreno, Pena, Mandi, Pedraza, Iker.

Man Utd: De Gea, Wan Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Alex Telles, Fred, McTominay, Sancho, Van de Beek, Martial, Ronaldo.
Subs: Bailly, Mata, Rashford, Lingard, Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Dalot, Henderson, Heaton, Matic.

Referee: Felix Brych (Munich)

17:44
Out come the players in Spain...

Big, big night for United. Win and the feet go up in Europe with a last-16 place secure. Defeat and they could be in big, big trouble - especially if it is by two goals. Here is another reminder of the group.

17:37

There have been links to Ernesto Valverde and Mauricio Pochettino to take over at Manchester United - but what can Michael Carrick do to get firing United again?

17:33

The penultimate night of the Champions League is always a night for offering qualification chances, here is the state of play across the groups...

17:30
Manchester United stars are just finishing their warm-ups

17:28
Wrong time to drop Bruno Fernandes maybe?

17:25
Paul Scholes claims Michael Carrick should have left United AS WELL

No holding back from Scholes, who believes the likes of Carrick and the rest of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coaching staff were just as responsible for United's poor start to the season.

17:19
Here is the starting XI of the Villarreal side this evening

17:18
Bayern Munich are also in action this early evening

Given the controversial turmoil regarding the treatment of their unvaccinated players who have been docked pay for having to miss club duties, Bayern Munich can count their blessings that they are already through to the last-16.

Still something for them in this game though, as by avoiding defeat they will confirm themselves as group winners.

Dynamo Kiev: Bushchan, Kedziora, Zabarnyi, Syrota, Mykolenko, Sydorchuk, Shaparenko, Tsygankov, Buyalsky, De Pena, Shkurin.
Subs: Verbic, Shepelev, Ramirez, Shabanov, Lednev, Andrievsky, Harmash, Karavayev, Vitinho, Kulach, Boyko, Antyukh.

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Pavard, Kouassi, Lucas, Davies, Tolisso, Goretzka, Coman, Muller, Sane, Lewandowski.
Subs: Richards, Sarr, Roca, Ulreich, Fruchtl, Tillman.

Referee: Halil Meler (Turkey)

17:05
Here is how Manchester United's group currently stands

Fine lines this evening. A win and they are through to the last-16, but defeat by two goals and their Champions League hopes rest on Atalanta not winning their final two games...

It's a pivotal night for caretaker boss Michael Carrick

16:59
Manchester United will be playing in alternate colours this evening

As for the away dressing room at Villarreal, it's what an estate agent would call a bit cosy. Mind you it's, certainly bigger than some of the dives many Sunday League footballers have to put up with - if you get one at all!

16:49
Michael Carrick takes the axe as Bruno Fernandes is DROPPED

There are four changes for Manchester United, the most notable being Bruno Fernandes is dropped from the midfield in favour of Donny Van de Beek following his goal in the 4-1 loss at Watford after coming off the bench.

Alex Telles replaces Luke Shaw, who has a concussion, while Fred and Anthony Martial replace Nemanja Matic and Marcus Rashford respectively.

Donny van de Beek (left) starts for Manchester United while Nemanja Matic is dropped
16:42
Manchester United starting XI

De Gea, Wan-Bissaka, Telles, Lindelof, Maguire, Fred, McTominay, Van de Beek, Martial, Sancho, Ronaldo.

16:38
It's crunch time for Manchester United

No rest for the wicked and there is no respite for Manchester United as they plunge straight back into action following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Watford.

Plenty has happened since then at the club as I am sure you will be aware, but tonight it's all about Champions League qualification as I welcome you to our live coverage of Villarreal vs Manchester United.

Fans are seen in a bar near the stadium ahead of the Champions League match