Champions League, La Liga, Manchester United
Villarreal continue their evolution with dreams of bettering 2006
Wednesday's Champions League action saw Villarreal claim an impressive draw with Manchester United, another minnow in the form of Aalborg claiming a valuable point against a poor Celtic side while refereeing decisions and Real Madrid's performance cause concerns.
Manchester United are not likely to repeat their ‘feat’ of 2005, when they failed to qualify for the Champions League knockout phases in a campaign that also began with a goalless draw against Villarreal. Yet the tiny Spanish outfit, who brought only a couple of hundred supporters to Old Trafford for the latest stalemate between the clubs, would instead very much like to repeat their sensational success from that same season.
Despite a compact stadium that holds just 25,000 and the region holding a population of less than double that number, Villarreal have thrived in recent seasons. In 2006, they reached a Champions League semi-final after seeing off predicted challengers Manchester United in the group stages while also overcoming Rangers and the mighty Inter Milan. Yet their recent success climaxed in La Liga last season, when this minute club beat off the might of Sevilla and Barcelona to take second place, just behind Real Madrid.
In the second tier of Spanish football at the turn of the millennium, Villarreal’s rise from unknowns to title contenders is astonishing.
Though their stunning European run of three years ago affected performances domestically during that and the following season, they have now been able to balance commitments to the league with their endeavours in continental competition.
In three of the last five years, Manuel Pellegrini’s Yellow Submarine have reached at least the quarter-finals of a European competition, with the last two campaigns being the exceptions. They have not finished outside the top eight in that time and stability, accompanied by a strong and talented South American contingent, has been key to this continuing fairytale.
A third 0-0 draw with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in three years puts Villarreal in an excellent position to progress. Manchester United will still anticipate qualification, but Celtic’s home draw with Aalborg puts Pellegrini’s side in pole position to claim one of the top two places.
In the vintage 2005/6 year, Villarreal didn’t lose at home in six European matches and the diminutive fortress that is El Madrigal will again be crucial in their lasting ambition to better a semi-final appearance.
For any other club of similar size, such an objective would be seen as ludicrous. But for Villarreal, it is a distinct possibility, especially with the likes of Matías Fernández and Giuseppe Rossi plying their trade in eastern Spain. And of course an old sage like Pellegrini is also a great assistance.
Points of contention
Italian referee Matteo Simone Trefoloni is in trouble with Uefa after dismissing the wrong Aalborg player in the goalless draw with Celtic. Beauchamp was red-carded for Jakobsen’s infringement, and it is unlikely the elite referee will be handed any further Champions League matches for this campaign and instead kept away from public view in the Uefa Cup. Yet the organisation are known for giving their top referees second chances, so Trefoloni will have opportunities to redeem himself.
Meanwhile, the Italians are on the back of top Swedish referee Peter Frojdfeldt again after Lyons claimed a 2-2 draw with Fiorentina. Frojdfeldt was the referee when the Netherlands controversially scored against Italy in the Euros and a similar situation occurred on Wednesday evening as Lyons scored when an opposition player lay stricken in the penalty area, therefore playing Karim Benzema onside. The Italians are critical of the referee, but surely it should be up to the opposition to put the ball out and respect Uefa’s message of fair play?
No-hopers Aalborg continue the minnows’ mission
Brian Laudrup commented before Celtic took on the Danish champions, now managed by old Arsenal man Bruce Rioch, that the Scottish side should encounter no problems and that even a draw was beyond Aalborg’s wildest dreams. And it should have been so - their squad has a total of 10 Champions League appearances, and an unavailable player laid claim to nine of them, while they lost their coach and some of their best players over the summer. Celtic missed a penalty and couldn’t make use of a man advantage in their easiest group game. The end to their 100% home record in Champions League group stages could also mean an end to their recent history of progressing into the last 16.
Uninspiring Real an Olimpico no-go
Real Madrid’s recent record in Europe’s premier competition is dire, and a laborious 2-0 victory over a poor BATE Borisov side from Belarus doesn’t suggest that their fortunes will be changing anytime soon. Last season they fell to AS Roma in the first knockout phase, losing both legs of the tie, after struggling through an easy-looking group. They suffered in the Stadio Olimpico back in February, but a return trip to the arena for a final appearance is not looking probable.
Tags: Aalborg, Bate Borisov, Celtic, Champions League, Fiorentina, La Liga, Lyon, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Villarreal
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Celtic still got a chance to progress to the last 16,ALL the teams are still on level terms.
I have you in my favourites now,keep up the good work.
Its time for Celtic to break their hoodoo of away results. they may have lost their 100% group stage record, but with the players acquired and new systems they will stead well
I can see Celtic taking points from each individual game. 2 weeks will prove good for the team, now all being fully fit
and Celtics only other away point taken in the UCL was in spain
Good omen?
It’s great to see a team the size of Villareal able to compete at Champions League level, it should encourage other “smaller” teams with limited investment to try to emulate their successes.
[...] four when Samaras had a golden opportunity but otherwise it held firm for yet another clean sheet. It follows up the 0-0 at Old Trafford two weeks ago and they look almost certain to progress into th… Meanwhile Celtic lost yet again on the road and despite Gordon Strachan promising his side would [...]