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UEFA Europa League final – Villarreal vs Manchester United: Live

Villarreal beat Man Utd 11-10 on penalties to win their first European trophy.

After what seemed like an endless wait, and not just the penalty kicks, Villarreal finally win their first major trophy [Maja Hitij/Reuters]
Published On 26 May 2021
  • Manchester United were aiming for first title in four years
  • Villarreal win first major trophy after appearing in a first European final
  • Win for Villarreal guarantees Champions League spot for next season

Time to wrap it up

Congratulation to Villarreal (and both goal-keepers) on an amazing performance.

The final report on the 2021 UEFA Europa League final is here. Do give it a read.

Keep reading

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And thanks for joining us on this epic journey.

The deciding factor [Kacper Pempel/Reuters]

Heartbreak for United

Cavani had scored the equaliser that put United back in the game during normal time [Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters]

A night of sheer joy for Villarreal

First major trophy and what an achievement it was.

[Maja Hitij/Reuters]

Villarreal win Europa League final

After what seemed like an endless wait, and not just the penalty kicks, Villarreal finally win their first major trophy!

Penalty kicks

Villarreal: OOOOOOOOOOO
Man Utd: OOOOOOOOOOX

Villarreal 11-10 Manchester United

Time for penalties

End of extra-time and both teams still tied 1-1.

The 2021 UEFA Europa League final will be decided from the spot-kick.

It’s all happening

Cavani is booked, McTominay gets a knock, VAR checks for a Villarreal penalty. It’s all happening… except a goal.

Into the final 15 minutes.

Still 1-1

First half of extra-time comes to a close… and nothing separating the two sides.

Tired legs?

United holding back in their half. Villarreal, with five substitutions already, are the ones pressing for a winner.

Time for Solskjaer to make a change?

And he does. Fred on for Greenwood. Hmm..

Extra-time it is

United had more of the possession (64 percent), more shots on target (two) and more shots off target (seven) but no separating the two sides in terms of goals in normal time.

It will be another 30 minutes of running around to find a winner before we see a shootout.

Into injury-time

90 minutes are up. No winners as things stand.

United yet to make a substitution.

Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford reacts [Kacper Pempel/Reuters]

Five minutes to go

Into the last five minutes of normal time, United still pressing.

And we see a bit of Harry Maguire on the sidelines… with some words of encouragement for the workhorse Luke Shaw.

Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

Double change for Villarreal

With five substitutes allowed (and a sixth if the final goes into extra time), Villarreal bring on fresh legs.

Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United (78 minutes)

Final 15 minutes

And it’s a corner for Villarreal.

‘Attack, attack, attack’

Manchester United players certainly listening to their fans.

Crosses coming in, a penalty appeal and Villarreal are on the backfoot (but on equal footing when it comes to goals scored).

Villarreal 240-440 Manchester United… those are just passes, not goals.

Cavani! Yes, him again

Manchester United equalise through – yes, you guessed it right – Cavani.

Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

VAR checking for potential offside… Goal stands.

 

Cavani celebrates scoring United’s first goal [Adam Warzawa/Reuters]

Frustration for the fans

Manchester United fans are losing patient. Villarreal defending in packs.

Back underway

More of the same for Villarreal for the next 45 minutes and they will lift their first European trophy.

United, meanwhile, need to find a way through. Even if it comes in injury time.

No changes for either side.

Villarreal 1-0 Manchester United

What that Moreno goal meant

Half-time: Villarreal 1-0 Manchester United

Ref blows the whistle for a 15-minute breather. Villarreal halfway there… unless United score, of course.

Sixty-eight percent possession for United but Villarreal lead in their first European final.

Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno celebrates scoring their first goal [Janek Skarzynski/Pool via Reuters]

Hope for United

Manchester United are still trailing… but their fans aren’t giving up. Wonder why?

Villarreal score!

Against the run of play, Villarreal open the scoring through Moreno… the Spanish side’s first shot on target.

Villarreal 1-0 Manchester United

Manchester United dominate possession in the opening 30 minutes but Villarreal have the all-important numerical advantage.

Manchester United dominating

The ‘away’ side has had almost 60 percent of possession in the opening 20 minutes of the game.

A reminder that Villarreal have, in fact, scored more goals than United in the tournament this season. They have also played six more matches than United.

First sight of the stretcher

Thankfully, it’s not needed. Pogba accidentally knees Foyth in the head but the Villarreal player manages to get up after receiving treatment.

Villarreal 0-0 Manchester United

Villarreal’s Juan Foyth holds his nose after sustaining an injury [Maja Hitij/Pool via Reuters]

First sight of goal

Rashford crosses to McTominay who shoots just side. It’s been mostly United in the first seven minutes of the final.

Let’s go

Here we go.

It’s kick-off. Manchester United get us started in red.

The 2021 Europa League final is underway.

All you need to know about the final

Just over 10 minutes to kick-off.

For everything else – fans, VAR, designated home team – check out our explainer on the 2021 UEFA Europa League final here.

Starting line-ups

Villarreal (4-4-2)
Geronimo Rulli, Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol (c), Pau Torres, Alfonso Pedraza, Dani Parejo, Etienne Capoue, Yeremy Pino, Manu Trigueros, Gerard Moreno, Carlos Bacca

Manchester United (4-3-3)
David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw, Scott McTominay, Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes (c), Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Edinson Cavani

Fernandes will captain Manchester United in the absence of Harry Maguire who starts on the bench [Janek Skarzynski/Pool via Reuters]

Solskjaer: We have to trust ourselves

“We just have to trust ourselves. This is a reward for all the hard work they’ve done in the last two years. We’ve been getting closer to a final. I want them to play with confidence, play with courage and be the best version of themselves.”

Enthusiasm for final beats COVID fears

Fans flocking into Poland’s historic city of Gdansk for the Europa League final said their enthusiasm for the game had triumphed over their fears about COVID-19.

English and Spanish supporters said they were excited to be able to witness the first major European final in nearly two years to have fans in attendance.

“It’s been emotional because of what it means to play the first final in the history of Villarreal, and also because of the situation we are in, the pandemic, after a year of not having travelled,” Andrea Manrique told Reuters news agency.

“I think that enthusiasm has won out a little over fear,” she added, wearing a yellow scarf in support of her team.

Up to 9,500 fans will be allowed into the Gdansk Stadium, with at least 2,000 supporters of each team flying in from Spain and Britain [Michael Sohn/Reuters]

Your favourites?

There is still time to cast your vote… who will win the 2021 Europa League final?

Head over to our Twitter page and vote. There are two options: Manchester United or like @Paddyfresh3 puts it, “the club that have not won it before”.

Team news for Villarreal

Team news for Manchester United

David de Gea indeed starts in goal. His last appearance in a Manchester United shirt? And Harry Maguire on the bench… wonder what role he will play in the middle.

‘The 26th May’

Manchester United, meanwhile, hoping to make all the noise out in the middle, hoping to make it “another European final to remember”.

Kick-off just over 90 minutes away.

Sha, la, la, la, laaaa, Ooooh, Villarreal

Villarreal fans out in numbers in the Polish city of Gdansk… and making some noise (despite what our Twitter followers have predicted).

Are you in Gdansk? Tweet us, tell us how much noise you’re making.

Who are you rooting for?

Will Villarreal win their first major trophy? Or will Manchester United lift the Europa League for the first time since 2016-17?

Head over to our Twitter page for the poll… seems pretty one-sided right now.

Manchester United fans attacked in Gdansk

A group of Manchester United fans visiting Gdansk were attacked on a restaurant terrace late on Tuesday.

Local mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz condemned the attack on a group of between 20 and 30 fans, saying in a statement posted on Facebook that Gdansk was an open city with no place for violence.

Witnesses said the attackers were heard shouting the name of local football club Lechia.

All you need to know about the final

What time is kick-off in your region? Are fans allowed? Will there be VAR (and VAR-related drama)? And who is the designated home team in the final.

Here is all you need to know about the Europa League final.

United’s time or first-time lucky for Villarreal?

Manchester United will aim for a first title in four years.

United’s last trophy came in the 2016-17 Europa League under Jose Mourinho when it became just the fifth club to win all three major UEFA competitions.

But up against them are Villarreal, who lost four previous European semi-finals before dumping out Arsenal in the last-four and who are unbeaten in the tournament this season.

Read our Europa League final preview here.

Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies