Villarreal CF v Manchester United FC El Madrigal - Villarreal Wednesday, 14 September 2005 - 20:45 (CET) Group stage - Group D - Matchday 1 Match officials Referee Kim Milton Nielsen (DEN) Assistant referees Jørgen Jepsen (DEN), Torben Jensen (DEN) Fourth official Michael Svendsen (DEN) UEFA delegate Tom A. Restall (MLT) Match preview Riquelme question taxes Villarreal Villarreal CF have arrived at their UEFA Champions League debut facing the problem which perpetually challenges veteran European performers like Manchester United FC, their Matchday 1 opponents in Group D. Riquelme doubt Juan Román Riquelme is Villarreal's most influential player but his ankle ligament strain will make his participation in the hotly-anticipated match at El Madrigal a late and difficult decision. Coach Manuel Luis Pellegrini's gamble is increased by the fact that United will play without their captain Roy Keane who has not travelled from England. Left-footed magic In theory that may offer Riquelme, who scored 15 league goals and eight out of eight penalties last season, more time and space for his left-footed magic. Pellegrini said: "Román is a key player for us, but not just against Manchester United. He is very hungry to play in this game yet we will not take a decision which might leave us without him in the league for a month and a half." Dilemma It is a dilemma which experienced Champions League sides face repeatedly - whether to risk group qualification by favouring their domestic competition or vice versa. But Riquelme's importance to the team he led to their highest-ever Primera División finish, third last term, and into this stage following a 4-2 aggregate victory against Everton FC, is such that it is likely the Argentinian will play. Main story Sir Alex Ferguson, entering his 30th year in management, agreed. "My instinct says that Riquelme will play and will be dangerous," said the Scot. "Three decades of experience tells me that he will make it and we will have to look out for him very closely." Were it not for the news of Riquelme and Keane then undoubtedly the story would be the chance for ESM Golden Shoe winner Diego Forlán to demonstrate his prolific scoring form to the club he left a year ago to move to Spain. 'Great time' The Uruguayan, author of the clinching goal in Villarreal's defeat of Everton, would love to score - but not for selfish reasons. "I had a great time with United and I'd love a goal against them, but not for me!" he said. "This is history for my new club and we must win our first game. People have asked me if starting the group against my old team is a dream come true, but my dreams are bigger - I want to go to the final, get a goal and win!" Pellegrini agrees, saying: "This game is vital because if we win we have a chance to finish top of the group, and I have confidence in our ability to reach at least the last 16." 'Surprise finalists' His opposite number, who dramatically won the 1999 Champions League final against FC Bayern München, understands the Villarreal coach's point of view. "Sometimes the smaller teams can do well in the Champions League as we have seen some surprise finalists in recent years," said Sir Alex. "There is a lot of pressure on the leading group of teams with all the matches they must play." Confidence boosted Helping Villarreal impress will be Uruguayan goalkeeper Mario Sebastián Viera on his Champions League debut. "This is a big test for us but I'm not scared of either Wayne Rooney or Ruud van Nistelrooij," said Viera, his confidence boosted by a penalty save from Frédéric Kanouté in the 1-1 weekend draw with Sevilla FC. 23:39:04 CET 13/9/2005 uefa.com 1/18 Matchday 1 - Group D - Wednesday, 14 September 2005 - PRESS KITS VILLARREAL-MAN. UNITED Ronaldo return Cristiano Ronaldo has returned to the United squad following his father's funeral and is expected to play. For Villarreal, Juan Pablo Sorín is fully fit and likely to start the match having come on as a second-half substitute at the weekend. Match background Villarreal undeterred by United Villarreal CF, who finished third in the Primera División last season behind the giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, have won through to their first UEFA Champions League campaign with a 4-2 aggregate win against English Premiership club Everton FC. Now Villarreal meet Everton's near-neighbours Manchester United FC in their first group game. Villarreal are in only their fourth season of UEFA club competitions, they are from the smallest town in Spain to currently provide a top-flight club, and their reward is to start with a game against one of the heavyweights. United are in their 28th European season and play their 217th European game. In the Champions League, United begin a record equalling eleventh season and their 112th game, but start in unfamiliar form, hoping to end a run of three consecutive defeats in the competition, suffered at the hands of Fenerbahçe SK and two games against AC Milan. Villarreal have a 100 per cent record against English clubs in UEFA club competitions, having played three previous matches against English opposition. The sequence began with a 2-0 home win against Middlesbrough FC in a group-stage game in last season's UEFA Cup when goals from Antonio Guayre and Javi Venta in each half gave the Spanish club a comfortable win. The Spanish club then beat Everton in this season's Champions League third qualifying round by 2-1 in both legs to enter this stage of the competition. Goals from Luciano Figueroa and Josico gave Villarreal a priceless away win, which they converted into a 4-2 aggregate win, thanks to efforts from Juan Pablo Sorín and finally Diego Forlán, whom Villarreal signed from United. United have been playing Spanish clubs on their European travels since their first season of competition in 1956/57. In the quarter final of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, United met Athletic Club Bilbao, and were on the wrong end of a 5-3 defeat in the first leg. But in the return leg, at Maine Road, then home to their Manchester City FC neighbours, United poured forward and goals from Dennis Viollet, Tommy Taylor and Johnny Berry took them to a semi-final meeting with Real Madrid CF. European football was born that night in Manchester. Since then United have made regular trips to Spain, the most memorable of their recent visits being the 2-1 win against FC Bayern München to win the Champions League at Camp Nou, Barcelona, in 1999. United have played 15 times in Spain against Spanish clubs, with just one win, five draws and nine defeats. The solitary success so far against a Spanish club on Spanish soil was a 2-0 win in the quarter-finals of the 2001/02 Champions League at RC Deportivo La Coruña. Goals from David Beckham and Ruud van Nistelrooij ensured their first success in Spain. 23:39:04 CET 13/9/2005 uefa.com 2/18 Matchday 1 - Group D - Wednesday, 14 September 2005 - PRESS KITS VILLARREAL-MAN. UNITED All-time statistics Head-to-head record No matches have been played between the two clubs Home teams record versus clubs from the away teams country Date Competition Stage Match Res Venue 25.11.2004 UCUP GS Villarreal - Middlesbrough 2-0 Villarreal 09.08.2005 UCL QR3 Everton - Villarreal 1-2 Liverpool 24.08.2005 UCL QR3 Villarreal - Everton 2-1 Villarreal Overall record Villarreal CF Pld: 3, W: 3, D: 0, L: 0, GS: 6, GA: 2 Away teams record versus clubs from the home teams country Date Competition Stage Match Res Venue 16.01.1957 UCL QF Athletic - Man. United 5-3 Bilbao 06.02.1957 UCL QF Man. United - Athletic 3-0 Manchester 11.04.1957 UCL SF Real Madrid - Man. United 3-1 Madrid 25.04.1957 UCL SF Man. United - Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester 24.04.1968 UCL SF Man. United - Real Madrid 1-0 Manchester 15.05.1968 UCL SF Real Madrid - Man. United 3-3 Madrid 15.09.1982 UCUP R1 Man. United - Valencia 0-0 Manchester 29.09.1982 UCUP R1 Valencia - Man. United 2-1 Valencia 07.03.1984 UCWC QF Barcelona - Man. United 2-0 Barcelona 21.03.1984 UCWC QF Man. United - Barcelona 3-0 Manchester 15.05.1991 UCWC F Man. United - Barcelona 2-1 Rotterdam 23.10.1991 UCWC R2 Atlético - Man. United 3-0 Madrid 06.11.1991 UCWC R2 Man. United - Atlético 1-1 Manchester 19.10.1994 UCL GS Man. United - Barcelona 2-2 Manchester 02.11.1994 UCL GS Barcelona - Man. United 4-0 Barcelona 16.09.1998 UCL GS Man. United - Barcelona 3-3 Manchester 25.11.1998 UCL GS Barcelona - Man. United 3-3 Barcelona 08.12.1999 UCL GS2 Man. United - Valencia 3-0 Manchester 21.03.2000 UCL GS2 Valencia - Man. United 0-0 Valencia 04.04.2000 UCL QF Real Madrid - Man. United 0-0 Madrid 19.04.2000 UCL QF Man. United - Real Madrid 2-3 Manchester 14.02.2001 UCL GS2 Valencia - Man. United 0-0 Valencia 20.02.2001 UCL GS2 Man. United - Valencia 1-1 Manchester 25.09.2001 UCL GS1 Deportivo - Man. United 2-1 La Coruna 17.10.2001 UCL GS1 Man. United - Deportivo 2-3 Manchester 02.04.2002 UCL QF Deportivo - Man. United 0-2 La Coruna 10.04.2002 UCL QF Man.