90min

Twitter reacts as Villarreal beat Manchester United in Europa League final

By Ross Jackson

Villarreal celebrate their win
Villarreal celebrate their win / MICHAEL SOHN/Getty Images
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Bang on about the Champions League all you like, the Europa League is where the real fun is at.

Manchester United faced Villarreal on Wednesday evening looking to notch just their second ever Europa League triumph after their success in the 2017 edition of the competition.

As the game edged closer towards kick off, the Twitter universe got their crystal balls out (the things that let you see into the future, get your mind out of the gutter) and started to predict how the clash would pan out.

In truth, going by the pair's previous meetings it wasn't a tough one to predict...

So, we're in for a classic then? Great stuff.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men streamed forward from the off and looked much the better side for the majority of the first half, though that leaky backline soon came back to haunt them as Victor Lindelof lost Gerard Moreno at a set piece and allowed the Spaniard to tap home.

Still, could be worse Victor, at least one of the main candidates to replace you in the United starting XI next season wasn't watching on...

United started the second half strongly, though luck didn't seem to be on their side as Mason Greenwood had a strong shout for a penalty turned down.

Was it to be one of those nights? Not with Edinson Cavani on hand.

As the game entered the final stages Villarreal showed no signs of wanting to even get out of their own half. A major European final involving Manchester United on May 26 locked at 1-1 with seconds to go you say? Could they?

No. Well that was a bit rubbish.

One of the few stats which Villarreal were well ahead on as the game entered extra time was the amount of substitutes made - 5-0 to be precise - with the super-sub of the 1999 Champions League final opting not to make a single sub until Fred was introduced in the 100th minute.

Solskjaer finally shuffled his pack in extra-time but the changes had little impact on what was frankly a shocking 30 minutes of football, as the game headed for penalties.

The game needed a hero and it needed a villain, and after a gruelling wait we found out which players would be playing the respective roles.

Poor old David de Gea.

Incredibly, every single one of the first 21 penalties was dispatched - including Villarreal goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli's - though Manchester United's shot-stopper couldn't do likewise as United's search for a trophy goes on.

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