The late reversal of fortune has been Manchester United’s trademark in this season’s Champions League. But Monday’s abrupt turnaround, far from any action on the pitch, was something new even to the masters of the surprise comeback.
United may feel quietly content with the way their outlook in Europe’s principal club competition changed over the course of three hours. At lunchtime they were digesting the prospect of meeting runaway French league-leaders Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16 stage. United would have started that as second favourites. By mid-afternoon, they had a revised tie against an inconsistent Atletico Madrid - a more even-looking match-up.
The cause of the confusion had been an embarrassing administrative error by Uefa, governing body of European football and custodians of the Champions League. The drawing out of balls from bowls to see who plays whom in the knockout phase is a major television event for Uefa, but as the names were assigned to opponents just after midday in Nyon, Switzerland, viewers around the world realised the system had malfunctioned.
Clubs who have already met in the group phase are supposed to be kept apart, and it became clear that the names Villarreal and United, who had been involved in a see-saw contest at Old Trafford in the group stage, had not been properly guided into distinct lanes. “A technical problem with the software of an external service provider,” Uefa explained.
There was enough doubt about the process, in which United finished up being drawn to play PSG, for Uefa to re-run the whole process.
So instead of Ralf Rangnick, United’s new interim manager, plotting how to contain Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe over 180 minutes, he can begin a rigorous study of what has lately been an unusually leaky Atletico Madrid defence.
Villarreal v Manchester United ratings
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VILLARREAL RATINGS: Geronimo Rulli, 5 - Looked in control until a sloppy pass and poor positioning led to United making it 1-0 - and the rest, as they say, is history. PA -
Juan Foyth, 6 - Was a fantastic aerial presence for Villarreal but let himself down by giving the ball away in the lead-up to the second goal. AP -
Raul Albiol, 6 - The experience was on full display in what proved to be a relatively solid night at the office. Getty -
Pau Torres, 6 - Was dragged across for the goal that killed off the game, although his overall composure was still impressive. AFP -
Pervis Estupinan, 6 - Made good runs and showed good physicality, even if he couldn’t put in that final ball needed to unlock United’s defence. AFP -
Daniel Parejo, 6 - Showed good instincts when darting into the final third but couldn’t string together consistent, successful passes. EPA -
Etienne Capoue, 7 - Dictated the pace in the middle of the park but fell away as the game went on and could have done better for the opener. AFP -
Manuel Trigueros, 6 - Only had a few moments to make an impact and still managed to force a great save from de Gea in the 59th minute. AFP -
Moi Gomez, 7 - Opened up space, ran through the heart of Manchester United’s midfield at will and generally ran the show for Villarreal. AFP -
Yeremi Pino, 6 - Had some nice build-up play throughout but let himself down with the end product time and time again. AFP -
Arnaut Danjuma, 4 - Couldn’t get the service he needed and looked completely off his game whenever he found himself in space. EPA -
SUBS: Alberto Moreno, N/A - Was left helpless and overrun as the Red Devils scored their second and sealed all three points. EPA -
Samuel Chukwueze, N/A - Looked energetic even though the tempo was gone from Villarreal’s play by the time he was introduced. AFP -
Dani Raba, N/A - Made a brief cameo that involved a few touches and a lot of ball-watching as United took over the game. Boulaye Dia, N/A -- Barely got a touch of the ball and wasn’t able to influence the play for his side. AFP -
MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea 8 - Busy first half with two decent saves. Best save was after 27 minutes, but that was nothing compared to a diving save from Trigueros on 58. Those saves kept his team in the game. Reuters -
Alex Telles 6 - Excellent cross towards McTominay from a free-kick after three minutes. Ball sailed over his head from goalkeeper Rulli on 27 and led to a Villarreal shot on target. Then he turned and crossed a beautiful ball to Ronaldo on 30. Losing possession and positioning led to another attack on 31. Getty -
Harry Maguire 7 - Better than recently, which isn’t saying much, but steady under pressure which came halfway through the second half. Nice ball towards Rashford, which was offside. Right to lead his players to the away fans at the end. Getty -
Victor Lindelof 7 - Headed an 11th minute in swinging corer away as Pino came behind him. Clattered to the ground after winning the ball against Danjuma on 38. United’s defensive shape was tighter as they tried to stop leaking so many goals and it worked. AP -
Aaron Wan-Bissaka 6 - Backed off in a move which led to Villarreal’s first shot on goal. Villareal had the run of the left wing, just as they’d had at Old Trafford, though he cut out a pass from Gomez. Lost possession on 44 which led to another chance. Still nowhere near the level he should be at, but better towards the end. EPA -
Fred 8 - Quiet first half, more influence in the second. Shot on target after 55, but it was a limp effort. Got a foot in to break up a Villarreal attack a minute later. Excellent ball to Rashford on 74 and was alert to Rulli’s poor ball out to set up Ronaldo. Got the move going for the second, too. Fred -
Scott McTominay 7 - Headed wide after three minutes. Ran the ball away from goal on 27 and did that well. Worked hard and fine pass around the corner towards Rashford leading to the second. Getty -
Anthony Martial 5 - Surprise start. Started on the middle with Ronaldo to his left. Did little in a tough first half for his team. Taken off. Getty -
Donny van de Beek 6 - Rewarded with a start after a decent cameo at Watford but couldn’t match that impact. Booked stretching for the ball on 41. Pushed hard, ran to enforce a press. Off for Fernandes. PA -
Jadon Sancho 8 - Super cross after 28, then dribbled his way into losing the ball 10 minutes later from his position on the right. That was when he was more advanced, which he wasn’t enough. Grew with his team late on and scored his first United goal, a stunning strike. EPA -
Cristiano Ronaldo 7 - Started on the left. Frustrated when Van De Beek couldn’t read his 23rd minute pass. Weak header on target after 30, but in the air was where he found space. Scored the key goal, a lofted finish, and another winner against Villarreal. Almost scored another on 84. Getty -
SUBS: Bruno Fernandes 8 - On for Van de Beek. He was a surprise omission from the starting XI, but Bruno has been poor by his usual standards. Changed the game from Villarreal being on top to United being on top. Shot on target deflected by Pau Torres on 85. Reuters -
Marcus Rashford 7 - On for Martial in a double substitution which Carrick had to make as Villarreal pushed towards a goal. It worked as he played off the shoulder of defender Estupinan. Trickery and a shot on target after 84. Getty -
Nemanja Matic N/A - On for Ronaldo after 90 minutes to use some seconds up and defend the lead. EPA -
Juan Mata N/A - On for Sancho. EPA
For neutrals, there may be disappointment that a possible contest between Messi and United’s Cristiano Ronaldo for a quarter-final spot turned out to be the result of a Uefa system failure. But Atletico against United has plenty of compelling hinterland. There’s the long history of Ronaldo versus Atletico, given how many Madrid derbies, including two European Cup finals, Ronaldo played in his Real Madrid days.
After the re-run of the draw, it was Real Madrid who ended up drawn against PSG, a spiky tie given Mbappe’s current situation, with the France international approaching the last six months of his contract and Madrid making no secret of their intention to sign him.
If PSG against Real Madrid looks the most glamorous tie, Liverpool’s contest with Internazionale, the Italian champions, has a heavyweight aura. But then so did AC Milan against Liverpool, on the last matchday of the group phase. Liverpool strolled through that to register their sixth win in six European games.
That form makes Jurgen Klopp’s team one of four clear favourites to win this European Cup, as least from the perspective of mid-December 2021.
Manchester City are in the quartet and should be optimistic about their last-16 tie against Sporting, the champions of Portugal. It promises entertainment, slick City against intrepid Sporting, with added piquancy for the several City players with pasts at Benfica, Sporting’s local rivals - that’s Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and Joao Cancelo.
No less attractive a tie as Sporting against City is Benfica against Ajax. Much may depend on how worldly Benfica warriors like Nicolas Otamendi and Jan Vertonghen can cope with the youthful verve of Ajax or contain Sebastien Haller, who scored 10 times in the group phase, and Dusan Tadic.
Chelsea have been kept away from Bayern Munich, which will be a relief to Thomas Tuchel’s European Cup holders. They finished second in their group but can count themselves among the competition’s favourites along with City, Liverpool and Bayern. Chelsea’s next trip will be to Lille, who won Ligue 1 last season but currently languish in 11th place in France’s top division.
Bayern must face Salzburg, the Austrian upstarts, and though they will beware Salzburg’s speed on the counter-attack, will be thankful not to have been paired with PSG or Chelsea.
Villarreal, the Europa League holders, take on Juventus, a tie that Unai Emery, the Villarreal head coach, can regard as winnable. Juventus have two months or so before the last-16 first legs to find a groove of good form, but it has been elusive so far this season.
