Man. United Through To Last 16 After Stalemate

Manchester United and Villarreal contested their fourth straight goalless draw in the Champions League as both qualified from the group stage.

Cristiano Ronaldo came closest to a goal but Diego Lopez brilliantly tipped his strike on to the crossbar.

The Villarreal keeper also denied Wayne Rooney, Anderson and Darren Fletcher while Joan Capdevila headed a deflected Rooney cross off the line.

Capdevila was later given a red card for a challenge on Ronaldo.

It was a contentious decision and ensured a lively and passionate end to what had been a largely low-key European encounter.

It was a late tackle by Spain defender Capdevila as he slid to win the ball but his studs left the ground and he made contact high on Ronaldo's left leg, with the Portugal star writhing in agony.

Howls of derision sounded around the Madrigal for the final 10 minutes of the contest but United closed out the match to ensure their qualification.

It was a broadly disappointing game, with too many misplaced passes and runs off the ball that went unnoticed.

But it was a controlled display by United, who had settled quickly, forcing Diego Lopez into an early save when Anderson shot across goal from a wide angle.

Playing a measured brand of football, the visiting team looked to get behind the Villarreal defence and did so after eight minutes, with Rooney slotting home from a Patrice Evra pull-back only for the effort to be ruled out for an offside against the France defender.

The Villarreal keeper made regulation saves from Ronaldo and Fletcher, returning to the United line-up after injury as one of five changes from the side that drew at Aston Villa on Saturday.

But it was a truly spectacular effort from Diego Lopez to tip a thunderous strike from Ronaldo on to the crossbar late in the opening half.

Villarreal, comfortable on the ball if lacking in ambition, did cause United occasional problems and Tomasz Kuszczak had to be alert to parry a strike from Santi Cazorla.

Several Villarreal players were incensed shortly after the restart when Rooney went down in the penalty area. Fabricio Fuentes was in close attendance but there did not appear to be any contact.

Diego Lopez kept out another shot from Ronaldo and two weak strikes from Anderson while Villarreal, who had lost skipper Marcos Senna to injury at the break, gradually showed some attacking intent.

Soriano Bruno impressed after replacing Senna and almost picked out the impressive Guiseppe Rossi with a cross from the left while three Villarreal players tried but failed to make contact with a teasing ball from the right.

Rooney had a shot on the turn saved but the nearest the half came to a goal after the break was after the forward's cross from the left took a deflection and headed towards goal with the keeper stranded.

Capdevila headed the ball out for a corner but shortly afterwards was sent from the field.

Villarreal: Diego Lopez, Javi Venta, Rodriguez, Fuentes, Capdevila, Santi Cazorla, Senna (Bruno 46), Eguren, Pires (Fernandez 65), Rossi (Franco 78), Ibagaza.

Subs Not Used: Viera, Edmilson, Cygan, Angel.

Sent Off: Capdevila (82).

Booked: Javi Venta, Eguren, Fuentes.

Man Utd: Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher (Gibson 80), Carrick (Tevez 86), Nani (Park 85), Anderson, Rooney.

Subs Not Used: Foster, Giggs, Vidic, Rafael Da Silva.

Booked: Evra, Ronaldo.

Att: 26,000

Ref: Roberto Rosetti (Italy).

Former United striker Giuseppe Rossi holds the ball up under pressure from Michael Carrick and Jonny Evans