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Villarreal logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 23, 2021 at 5.45pm UK
Estadio El Madrigal
Manchester United logo

Villarreal
0 - 2
Man Utd


Pino (33')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Ronaldo (78'), Sancho (90')
van de Beek (41')

Preview: Villarreal vs. Manchester United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Villarreal and Manchester United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Michael Carrick will lead Manchester United into Tuesday's Champions League clash against Villarreal after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dismissal as head coach was confirmed on Sunday morning.

Man United know that a win against the Yellow Submarine will confirm their spot in the knockout round of the competition with a game to spare, but a defeat would leave them vulnerable in Group F.


Match preview

Villarreal's Pau Torres in action with Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes in the Champions League on September 29, 2021© Reuters

Villarreal will be looking to use the pressure on Man United to inspire them on Tuesday, and a win for the Yellow Submarine would see them qualify for the knockout round of the competition if Atalanta BC do not overcome Young Boys in Group F's other contest.

Unai Emery's side are currently second in the section, level on seven points with their opponents here, while Atalanta sit third in the group on five points ahead of the penultimate round of fixtures.

Villarreal will bring a three-game unbeaten run into Tuesday's contest, having beaten Young Boys 2-0 in the Champions League before overcoming Getafe and drawing with Celta Vigo in La Liga either side of the international break.

Emery's side are entering a huge period of matches, facing Barcelona and Sevilla in their next two league games, while their final Group F contest, which could be decisive, comes away at Atalanta.

The Spanish outfit were excellent against Man United in the reverse match at Old Trafford at the end of September but somehow managed to lose 2-1; they have bounced back, though, by overcoming Young Boys home and away to move onto seven points in the section.

Manchester United coach Michael Carrick pictured in July 2021© Reuters

Solskjaer's dismissal by the 20-time English champions was confirmed on Sunday, with the Norwegian unable to survive the 4-1 defeat at Watford in the Premier League; Carrick has been placed in charge for the moment while the club look to appoint an interim boss until the end of the season.

Man United's Premier League form has been dismal, losing five of their last seven in England's top flight, including four of their last five against Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City and Watford.

Any hopes of a title challenge have been extinguished, with Chelsea 12 points clear of them at the summit, but the Red Devils will still believe that they can finish in the top four this term, while they are on course to reach the knockout round of the Champions League.

The Red Devils lost their section opener against Young Boys in the middle of September but have somehow managed to pick up seven points from their last three against Villarreal and Atalanta, needing late shows in all three fixtures to allow them to move to the top of the group.

Man United will go through to the round of 16 if they win on Tuesday, while a draw would also be enough if Atalanta are held by Young Boys, and there is no question that the team are in need of a confidence boost ahead of the trip to Chelsea in the Premier League on November 28.

Villarreal Champions League form:
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W

Villarreal form (all competitions):
  • L
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • W
  • D

Manchester United Champions League form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D

Manchester United form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • L



Team News

Raphael Varane in action for Manchester United on August 29, 2021© Reuters

Villarreal will again be without the services of key forward Gerard Moreno due to a hamstring injury, while Serge Aurier is ineligible for the Yellow Submarine in the Champions League.

Head coach Emery is expected to make changes from the side that started against Celta in the league on Saturday, with Yeremi Pino and Francis Coquelin potentially coming into the XI.

The home side are also sweating on the fitness of Arnaut Danjuma and Etienne Capoue, but both players are expected to win their battle to be fit, having missed out against Celta.

As for Man United, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane will again be unavailable through injury, while Mason Greenwood is absent, having tested positive for coronavirus.

It is also unlikely that Edinson Cavani will recover from a tendon issue in time, while Luke Shaw suffered another suspended concussion against Watford and could be replaced at left-back by Diogo Dalot.

Carrick is expected to make changes from the Watford clash, with Donny van de Beek in line for a start in midfield, while Eric Bailly could come into the back four against his former club, as the Ivorian will more than likely be needed against Chelsea next weekend due to Harry Maguire's league suspension.

Jesse Lingard is also pushing to be involved, but Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho could be selected in support of Cristiano Ronaldo, while Fred should return in midfield.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza; Parejo, Capoue, Coquelin; Pino, Dia, Danjuma

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Dalot; Van de Beek, Fred; Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford; Ronaldo


SM words green background

We say: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

It will be fascinating to see what type of reaction there is from Man United, who were so poor at Watford on Saturday. A draw would be a decent result for the Red Devils considering that they finish their campaign at home to Young Boys, and we can see the two teams playing out a low-scoring draw here.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data



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Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Manchester United win with a probability of 39.32%. A win for Villarreal had a probability of 32.6% and a draw had a probability of 28.1%.

The most likely scoreline for a Manchester United win was 0-1 with a probability of 12.01%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 1-2 (8.11%) and 0-2 (7.41%). The likeliest Villarreal win was 1-0 (10.68%), while for a drawn scoreline it was 1-1 (13.16%). The actual scoreline of 0-2 was predicted with a 7.4% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Manchester United would win this match.


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Game History

How you voted: Villarreal vs Man Utd

Villarreal
28.4%
Draw
23.1%
Manchester United
48.5%
670
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