United secured the point they needed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League in a stalemate against Villarreal. Nobody could muster a goal when the sides met at Old Trafford back in September, and it was the same story in the El Madrigal Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo came closest to scoring when his effort was tipped onto the crossbar while Villarreal, who also progress, had Joan Capdevila sent off for a challenge on Ronaldo. Ronaldo was at the centre of most of the action for United, and he certainly showed no ill-effects from the ankle problem he suffered at Aston Villa.
For the fourth successive match these teams played out a goalless draw, although United looked the more assured of the two sides.
26 November 2008
25 November 2008
Aston Villa 0 Utd 0
United passed up the chance to gain ground on Chelsea and Liverpool after a goalless draw at Aston Villa. Both Chelsea and Liverpool drew earlier on Saturday, to Newcastle and Fulham respectively, but the Reds could not take advantage against a stubborn Aston Villa side.
Chances were few and far between at Villa Park, and Wayne Rooney blasted high and wide from close range when he finally found an opening.
Chances were few and far between at Villa Park, and Wayne Rooney blasted high and wide from close range when he finally found an opening.
18 November 2008
Utd 5 Stoke 0
United hammered Stoke at Old Trafford with Cristiano Ronaldo (two), Michael Carrick, Dimitar Berbatov and Danny Welbeck on target. Ronaldo scored his 100th United goal and then added another for good measure as the Reds marked Sir Alex Ferguson’s 50 years in style. The Portuguese winger opened United’s account with a trademark free-kick after just three minutes and scored another at the end. In between, Carrick, Berbatov and a stunner from England Under-19 striker Welbeck found the target as well as United recorded their biggest win of the season.
10 November 2008
Arsenal 2 Utd 1
We lost, enough said, cannot afford much hiccups if we want to retain the title. We need to score, not to play like the old Arsenal, creating chances & not finishing them.
06 November 2008
Celtic 1 Utd 1
Giggs scored a second half equaliser to almost sealed entrance to the next stage for Utd.
Playing with Rooney & Berbatov on the bench, Utd did not played wel in the first half. They woke up in the second after intro of Berbatov, Evra & Rooney and could have won from the numerous chances they created late in the game.
Playing with Rooney & Berbatov on the bench, Utd did not played wel in the first half. They woke up in the second after intro of Berbatov, Evra & Rooney and could have won from the numerous chances they created late in the game.
03 November 2008
Utd 4 Hull City 3
United looked to be cruising to victory when a Cristiano Ronaldo double and goals from Michael Carrick and Nemanja Vidic put them 4-1 up.
But the Tigers fought back with goals from Bernard Mendy and former Manchester City midfielder Geovanni which saw the Reds holding on for victory.
But the Tigers fought back with goals from Bernard Mendy and former Manchester City midfielder Geovanni which saw the Reds holding on for victory.
30 October 2008
Utd 2 West Ham 0
Ronaldo scored a brace against the Hammers.
After turning in United's opener with his left foot from Nani's cross after 13 minutes he screamed with joy to the heavens and then gave a wide grin towards the Reds bench.bThe toothy beaming smile was absent when he slid in to poke his second of the match on the half hour but maybe that was more to do with the fact that it was a routine finish and Dimitar Berbatov deserved to be the focus of attention for his jaw-dropping assist.
It was a sumptuous moment from the Bulgarian as he took the ball to the by-line and completely flummoxed Hammers defender Collins with a turn and flick to leave him rooted to the spot looking at the space where the Reds striker had previously been. bIt was a magical moment that summed up United's swaggering command of this game. One by one all United's wizards had their party trick moments.
If there was any slight downside to this stroll it was the fact that United didn't vastly improve their goal difference figures having opened up West Ham so early and so clinically. It wasn't for want of trying and nobody tried harder than Wayne Rooney when he came on as a sub. He tried a thunderbolt, a delicate chip and a curler to get his name on the scoresheet again in his 21 minutes on the pitch. Ronaldo almost had the final say and should have been celebrating his first hat trick since his treble against Newcastle last January but having been set up by Evra he made it an easy gather for Hammers keeper Robert Green who must have felt like he'd escaped a real thrashing on the night.
After turning in United's opener with his left foot from Nani's cross after 13 minutes he screamed with joy to the heavens and then gave a wide grin towards the Reds bench.bThe toothy beaming smile was absent when he slid in to poke his second of the match on the half hour but maybe that was more to do with the fact that it was a routine finish and Dimitar Berbatov deserved to be the focus of attention for his jaw-dropping assist.
It was a sumptuous moment from the Bulgarian as he took the ball to the by-line and completely flummoxed Hammers defender Collins with a turn and flick to leave him rooted to the spot looking at the space where the Reds striker had previously been. bIt was a magical moment that summed up United's swaggering command of this game. One by one all United's wizards had their party trick moments.
If there was any slight downside to this stroll it was the fact that United didn't vastly improve their goal difference figures having opened up West Ham so early and so clinically. It wasn't for want of trying and nobody tried harder than Wayne Rooney when he came on as a sub. He tried a thunderbolt, a delicate chip and a curler to get his name on the scoresheet again in his 21 minutes on the pitch. Ronaldo almost had the final say and should have been celebrating his first hat trick since his treble against Newcastle last January but having been set up by Evra he made it an easy gather for Hammers keeper Robert Green who must have felt like he'd escaped a real thrashing on the night.
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