Manchester Utd 0 Villareal 0:IT WAS quite a party in Moscow 119 days ago and the suspicion lingers that Manchester United are still struggling to come to terms with the hangover. It is now two victories from six matches for Alex Ferguson's side after Villarreal ensured the Champions League holders endured a frustrating start to their defence of the trophy that was lifted in such dramatic fashion in May.
There was no such excitement here as United toiled against the La Liga runners-up, continuing their unconvincing start to the season.
Jonny Evans hit the post late on and Carlos Tevez had an effort cleared off the line, but Villarreal were not a side under siege. Cristiano Ronaldo's appearance as a second-half substitute lifted the mood, but there was to be no storybook return for the Portuguese.
Resilient and obdurate, Villarreal departed with a point that brings to an end United's record of 12 straight home victories in the Champions League and leaves Ferguson still searching for the remedy to the malaise that has left his side looking subdued.
When the team-sheets arrived they revealed that the substitutes' benches were replete with players who had been expected to start.
With Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes all unavailable, Ferguson's decision to leave out Wes Brown, Nemanja Vidic and Anderson was a surprise.
Villarreal might have taken solace from the United line-up on another day but the sight of two Spanish internationals, Marcos Senna and Santi Cazorla, warming the bench alongside the Argentina midfielder Ariel Ibagaza and recent signing Joseba Llorente suggested Manuel Pellegrini was resigned to picking up nothing here.
It was a lacklustre opening 45 minutes during which United were comfortably in the ascendancy but unable to produce the kind of exhilarating football expected of them at Old Trafford on European nights. There was no shortage of possession, but penetration was painfully lacking.
United were not without chances but there was little conviction in the penalty area, something that was evident as early as the eighth minute when Rio Ferdinand failed to react quickly enough when Diego Lopez was unable to gather Owen Hargreaves's inswinging corner.
Later, the industrious Tevez stung Lopez's hands with a vicious, 25-yard angled drive; the forward was entitled to shoot from distance after watching the goalkeeper make a pig's ear of holding an attempt from Nani.
Ferguson, who learned earlier in the day he could face disciplinary action from the Football Association after his comments about Keith Hackett, must have been concerned at the failure to create more clear-cut chances.
Park Ji-sung saw a shot ricochet off Gonzalo Rodriguez and Darren Fletcher's far-post header struck Angel Lopez, but the United fans were demanding more.
Edwin van der Sar saved at the near post from Robert Pires midway through the first half, but otherwise the United defence, which included the 20-year-old Evans and Gary Neville, were rarely stretched before the break.
The same could not be said for the second half, with Villarreal squandering a wonderful opportunity to seize the initiative on the hour mark.
Angel Lopez escaped on the right before delivering a low cross that Guille Franco showed wonderful technique to flick towards goal with his right heel, only for the ball to rebound off the foot of the upright.
It was a reprieve for the home side and one that prompted the response from Ferguson all United fans had hoped for as Ronaldo, cheered when he warmed up moments earlier, came on to replace the ineffective Park.
A breakthrough beckoned in the 72nd minute when United produced their best attacking move.
Wayne Rooney ran clear on the left before adroitly releasing the unmarked Tevez, who calmly slotted the ball under Lopez, only for Rodriguez to hack clear on the line.
Back came United again with Evans heading against the post. It was too little and too late.
MAN UTD:Van der Sar, Neville, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Nani, Hargreaves (Anderson 62), Fletcher, Park (Ronaldo 62), Rooney, Tevez (Giggs 81). Subs not used: Foster, Brown, Vidic, O'Shea. Booked: Tevez.
VILLARREAL:Diego Lopez, Angel, Rodriguez, Godin, Capdevila, Cani (Santi Cazorla 46), Eguren, Edmilson, Pires (Ibagaza 67), Fernandez, Franco (Llorente 77). Subs not used: Viera, Javi Venta, Senna, Fuentes. Booked: Franco, Ibagaza, Diego Lopez.
Referee:Wolfgang Stark (Germany).
Guardian Service
