Matchday LIVE: Villarreal's Rulli saves De Gea penalty to win Europa League final at Man Utd's expense

But at the end of the day, it is the underdog with only their passion to their name, coached by the overlord of Europa League success, who triumph in Gdansk. The streets in Poland will be filled with Yellow Submarines all night long. Villarreal are Europa League champions - and for the next few days, the continent will sing their name after they finally wrote themselves into the history books alongside some of the greats. That yellow is going to be matched with blue on Saturday though - but which shade will it be? It's Manchester City and Chelsea in the Champions League final - and until then, thank you for joining us and good night.

Villarreal paint Europe yellow

Do Villarreal get that opener in the first half if Harry Maguire is there? Do Manchester United execute a higher press if Paul Pogba starts up top and Mason Greenwood arrives from the bench to unlock the defence? The what-ifs and maybes will haunt the Red Devils as they debrief on the way home, an empty seat gathering dust where they had hoped to strap in some long-awaited silverware. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's gameplan, in the end, was effective to a point. Alas, Villarreal's slower, scrappier invitation proved too hard to shrug off when it mattered at points - and David De Gea's painful penalty record came back to haunt them.

Maguire the missing link?

FT: Villarreal (11) 1-1 (10) Manchester United

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Together in defeat ♥ <a href="https://t.co/2QrgtWmNaI">pic.twitter.com/2QrgtWmNaI</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397681770787704839?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Tough night for United

If any further indication is needed of the measure by which Manchester United must be held, Solskjaer has just told BT Sport that he does not consider this a successful campaign, when asked: "No. "We're getting better and better and closer and closer [to big titles]. We were one kick away from a trophy and a good night. "We have to have the desire to come back next year, improve, get better. The only way to get the margins on your side is to work harder and better."

Solskjaer: Not a successful season

On BT Sport, Solskjaer offers praise for the winners tonight - he knows when he's beaten - but further acknowledges that his side failed to hand themselves the opportunities to put the game to bed. "They made it hard for us, made it difficult, closed the spaces," he adds. "We had the majority of the possession and they defended well. We didn't create enough big chances. "Now's not the time to point the finger at what I would have done different, but when you come out with no trophy then you've not done everything right."

Solskjaer: We're not doing everything right

More damning - but quite accurate, given the overall quality of the game - words from Solskjaer now, who simply admits that his side didn't show themselves at their best in Gdansk tonight. We didn't turn up," he adds to BT Sport. "We didn't play as well as we know we can do. I think we started all right, they got the goal with the only shot they had on target. Disappointed that we conceded again on a set play. "We pushed, we pressed, we scored the goal, but after we scored we couldn't control the game and dominate as well as we wanted."

Solskjaer: We didn't turn up

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has pitched up for his BT Sport interview and the Norwegian looks to have calmed somewhat. He's still quite raw though, very much giving the impression of a man who has aged a year inside an hour. "It's quiet of course, it's a disappointed dressing room," he says.&nbsp;"It's just... that's football for you. Sometimes it's decided on one kick. That's the difference between winning and losing sometimes. "We've got to&nbsp;learn from that one. We've got to... not 'savour' this feeling, but taste this feeling and make sure you don't get it again."

Solskjaer: United must taste defeat

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">💛 𝑪𝑨𝑴𝑷𝑬𝑶𝑵𝑬𝑺 💛 <a href="https://t.co/w3FjsUvsJT">pic.twitter.com/w3FjsUvsJT</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397680926302294021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Champions of Europe

Francis Coquelin has been speaking to BT Sport, and is somehow keeping his emotions in check. (Seriously, that's some Terminator-style control he is displaying to not start jumping around like a firework. "It feels really good," he says. "It's been a tough competition. To play against a very good side like Manchester United, we knew it would be tough. "We didn't manage to get to the Champions League through the league so to get it through the Europa League is something special - and a first title for the club as well - something amazing. "A penalty shoot-out is a lottery and we managed to win it. It was a fairytale of the competition. To beat them in the final is something special."

Coquelin; A 'fairytale' finale

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🏆 Villarreal's name on a major European trophy for the first time!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/l0DU6i8QtK">pic.twitter.com/l0DU6i8QtK</a>— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuropaLeague/status/1397678974730444802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Etched into history

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">6/7 - Manchester United have lost six of their last seven penalty shootouts in all competitions, beating only Rochdale in a third round League Cup tie in September 2019 during this period. Heartbreak. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1397673267562008587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Penalty pain continues for United

The celebrations for Villarreal are continuing well into the Gdansk night, but Raul Albiol has managed to spare a few words, mostly to admit that it has been a while since he had a spot-kick. "I haven't shot a penalty since I was a kid!" he claims, in what is likely a bit of a white lie, but you can't begrudge him when he's on cloud nine. "It's a big award and we're very happy to win," he continues.&nbsp;"We deserve it, but not only the players - it's for the physios, the entire coaching staff and our president, who was not able to come."

Albiol: I haven't shot a penalty since I was a kid!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Four years since Manchester United last won a trophy. <a href="https://t.co/8dqZmzk9Jg">pic.twitter.com/8dqZmzk9Jg</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397677770482794498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That sinking feeling

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">That winning moment 😲<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/2fkcU3TVVJ">pic.twitter.com/2fkcU3TVVJ</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397677153173581824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That winning moment

On plenty of occasions this year, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned to his bench to help win games - indeed, second-half comebacks have become something of a trait at Old Trafford under him. But who was there today on that bench that could have made a difference? Alex Telles, Juan Mata, the unused Donny van de Beek, they all could have made an impact. Yet it is hard to ignore that most of the players typically thrown on by Solskjaer to swing games - Cavani, Greenwood, Pogba - started from the off, and therefore slipped into the traps of Villarreal's game plan.

No super-sub for Ole tonight?

Do you remember when Manchester United looked to be headed into a closed-shop European Super League? There will be no chance for such an underdog story with two other attempted breakaway sides competing the other continental final this week, but this will surely be all the more sweet for those who believe in the beauty of the game. This was not a beautiful match - but many will tell you it is a beautiful result.

The romance of football?

Now it is the turn of the Yellow Submarine and just about every player kisses the trophy as they pass it. Juan Foyth - still wrapped up from his earlier knock - gives it a big smooth. Mario Gaspar and Raul Albiol are last. They take the trophy together, take it over to the rest of their squad - and hoist it high! Enjoy this moment, Villarreal fans - it has been a long time coming!

Villarreal take their medals

The podium has been built and various presenters - including Sir Alex Ferguson - are there to hand out the medals. The referees go first, before Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes lead Manchester United up. Most of the players immediately remove their runners-up gongs as soon as they have been placed around their necks. This one stings, and stings hard.

Presentations underway

Where does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer begin to dismantle this one? With hindsight, the fact that David De Gea had nothing to do for much of the evening may have left the latter a little rusty; he never looked like he would seriously save a spot-kick at the end there. As Unai Emery is tossed into the air by his players, the Norwegian - known for his calm, measured wit to a point - looks understandably cheesed off. Tonight was the chance to put the first block back into the rebuilding of their success. Let us not forget, he has taken United to back-to-back top three finishes for the first time since Alex Ferguson retired, and this final too. He's helped give the club direction. But this should really have been the end of that first act, crowned with silverware. He'll need it next year, surely.

Hard questions beckon for Solskjaer

Had Villarreal lost here today, they would have still been in European competition next season of course, having edged a seventh-place finish in La Liga to book a spot in the first-ever Europa Conference League. Now, instead, they're going to be joining the big boys. The Yellow Submarine is sailing into the Champions League - where a rematch with Manchester United is not entirely out of the question.

Villarreal seal Champions League berth

There's a strong case to be made that neither team was good enough on the night, but the fact of the matter brought about from this penalty shoot-out is that Manchester United's wait for a trophy under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer goes on. It is desolation for the Red Devils. They finish second in the Premier League and the Europa League this year. They entered as favourites and they leave empty-handed, shut down on the night. Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani's fine campaigns, among other members of this United team, come to an end with nothing to show for it.

Bridesmaids again for United 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Unai Emery runs the Europa League.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/LKSdDzBTQS">pic.twitter.com/LKSdDzBTQS</a> — Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397673359253639168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Unai unbeaten once more

The underdogs reign supreme in Poland. It will not be an all-English affair in next seaon's Super Cup; there will be no meeting for Manchester City or Chelsea with their Premier League rivals. Unai Emery outfoxed Arsenal in the semi-finals, for what will have surely been a sweet piece of poetic justice, but this will mean all the more to him. Full credit to Villarreal. Their plan kept Manchester United's playmakers quiet in the final third, took it all the way to the end, and have won with fine margins in a truly marathon penalty shoot-out.

Yellow Submarine sink Red Devils in Gdansk

UNAI EMERY DOES IT AGAIN! IT'S A FIRST MAJOR HONOUR FOR THE YELLOW SUBMARINE! Heartbreak for Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, elation for Villarreal and&nbsp;Geronimo Rulli. The four-year wait for the Red Devils goes on. The lifelong wait for the opponents is over. History is made in Gdansk; Villarreal are Europa League Champions!

VILLARREAL WIN THE 2020-21 EUROPA LEAGUE!

DE GEA MISSES!

Villarreal (11) 1-1 (10) Manchester United

That is a fine finish from Rulli! But can De Gea put one past him in return?

RULLI SCORES!

LINDELOF SCORES!

Villarreal (10) 1-1 (10) Manchester United

The centre-back opens up his body and sidefoots it into the top-left corner. Such quality.&nbsp;

TORRES SCORES!

Villarreal (10) 1-1 (9) Manchester United

TUANZEBE SCORES!

The Yellow Submarine's longest-serving player gets his effort past De Gea, despite a hand from the keeper.

GASPAR SCORES!

By the margin of an after-dinner mint! That should have been saved and Rulli knows it.

SHAW SCORES!

Wjay a hit that is! De Gea goes the wrong way but that is absolutely buried in the top-right corner.

COQUELIN SCORES!

The Wales international sends Rulli the wrong way. That's 14 penalties taken and 14 scored.

JAMES SCORES!

ALBIOL SCORES!

Rulli goes the right way - but he can't stop Fred just finding the bottom-right corner. Now Villarreal feel the weight.

FRED SCORES!

Straight down the middle and the pressure is all back on Manchester United.

MOI GOMEZ SCORES!

The Uruguay international loves the pressure, doesn't he? Now we are into the endgame.

CAVANI SCORES!

PAREJO SCORES!

There is a very, very long walk from the England international but he turns it well into the bottom-left corner as Rulli goes the other way. Into sudden death we go.

RASHFORD SCORES!

MORENO SCORES!

They've nearly all gone to the left so far and Bruno Fernandes does so too. Rulli gets a glove too but can't stop it.

FERNANDES SCORES!

So close for De Gea! The keeper gets fingertips as it goes towards the left corner but can't keep it out.

ALCACER SCOrES!

The former Porto man built a reputation at his old club for spot-kicks and rewards his late change here, going to the left.

TELLES SCORES!

De Gea goes very early there - have the nerves bitten him? - and Raba makes no mistake.

RABA SCORES! 

He's only been on the field a minute or so, but the veteran Spaniard does not let United down.

MATA SCORES!

No problem for the Yellow Submarine's main striker.

MORENO SCORES! 

This, let's be honest, has not been a classic final. It has been 120 minutes of football where there were just three shots on target. But now, the theatre of the shoot-out means that it may well stick in the memory for something else entirely. Gerrard Moreno will shoot first.

Villarreal to shoot first

That's it! The game peters out, the final whistle goes and we are headed to a penalty shoot-out! How are your nerves, Manchester United fans? Suddenly, David De Gea has been thrust into the spotlight. He has not saved a penalty since April 2016. Dean Henderson has saved six since then. The narrative may well rest with him. Hearts will be in mouths.

ET FT: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

Dani Raba replaces Etienne Capoue - there is an extra change during this period if you want it - for Villarreal. It's kind of mad you can switch half of your outfield players out but regardless.

SUB: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

Into the second minute of injury-time and United have made their final changes. Juan Mata - who scored from the spot against Wolves at the weekend - and Alex Telles - a noted penalty taker before he came to the club - are on. We are almost certainly going to penalties.

ON: Mata, Telles, OFF: McTominay, Wan-Bissaka

Is there any late heroics to come from Manchester United? You'd actually back Villarreal to find a winner, they've looked more lively across the extra-time period. This has been a superb piece of game management from Unai Emery. The old hand at the Europa League feels like he might be adding a fourth victory to his collection.

The Final Countdown

This is a heck of a gamble from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He's brought on Dan James and replaced Paul Pogba. Not the man you'd expect to see hooked with penalties looming. Axel&nbsp;Tuanzebe is also on, replacing Eric Bailly at the back as play resumes. We'll likely have some injury-time thanks to that stoppage. Has the Norwegian got it wrong tonight with the timing of his changes?

Now this is a bit of a strange situation. McTominay goes down after a touch off the ball, and Villarreal play on. A shout for a penalty against a potential handball off Fred goes up inside, then Shaw smuggles it away, then the game finally comes to a halt. Cavani is booked for saying something out of turn to the referee while McTominay gets treatment. That was an odd saga.

YELLOW CARD: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It's tense. 15 minutes until penalties 👀<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/0fpjuwlpJB">pic.twitter.com/0fpjuwlpJB</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397662349293674498?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cuts like a knife

Albiol and&nbsp;Rulli have a spot of confusion dealing with a long ball and Rashford very nearly nips onto it. The goalkeeper does just enough to get hold of it. More concerningly for the Red Devils however is that the England man does not look comfortable. He needs treatment and moves to the sidelines. Dan James is getting changed on the sidelines. He could be on in a moment.

A knock for Rashford?

Huddles over and an early free-kick chance - conceded by Lindelof - is then flagged for offside to scupper Villarreal's hopes of a lightning blow out of the blocks. Surely now, the mind turns towards penalty takers. Mason Greenwood is off for United - so who would be the top five right now?

Back underway

Is the shoe on the other foot as the whistle goes for this next quick break? Both teams move to huddle with their managers, but there's something a little bit forlorn about Manchester United. In the stands, Sir Alex Ferguson is looking spectacularly stone-faced. His old club have been far from their best tonight&nbsp; Every Villarreal player, substitutes in big coats included, have just had a sort-of group bear hug. They have never - never - won a major honour in their career. They've just as good a chance as anyone today.

ET HT: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

David De Gea is suddenly finding himself thrust into the thick of the action, which is not what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will want to see. The keeper is being called upon to field balls from both his own side and the opposition. The Spaniard is looking steady, but the rest of United are flagging hard as the heavens open in Gdansk. They have work to do.

Rain runs down in Gdansk

Now that is a concern for United. A loose pass at the back - not for the first time - is pounced on and Alberto Moreno blazes a wayward shot over. This is turning into a war of attrition for the Red Devils, the longer they stay stuck down the other end. Alcacer sticks an effort over too a moment later. Solskjaer responds with his first change, bringing on Fred for Greenwood. He will seemingly take Pogba's spot, allowing the Frenchman to move upfield.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">2013/14 - This is the first <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> to go to extra time since the 2013-14 edition, with Unai Emery's Sevilla going on to beat Benfica on penalties. Repeat?— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1397657868887859201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

History repeating itself for Emery?

Those five changes throughout various points of the second half do seem to have given Villarreal a bit of extra zip following that five-minute turnaround to take on instructions. They aren't quite as passive as they were at points in the second half, looking to proactively press if they can. They still look like a side who would be happy to go to penalties though. United, on the other hand, do not.

Fresh faces the difference?

We are back underway for the first half of extra-time at&nbsp;Stadion Miejski. There is no shortage of goalscorers among the Villarreal ranks. The question of how they will approach this additional half-hour however remains up for grabs. Will momentum still be at United's backs?

ET KO: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We're off to extra time! ⌚<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/CXbypjOoeH">pic.twitter.com/CXbypjOoeH</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397656992269881344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Extra! Extra! Extra!

Clement Turpin blows his whistle and we are on our way to extra-time in this Europa League Final! Edinson Cavani's equaliser rescued Manchester United from their early lapse, but the Red Devils - despite their efforts since - have been unable to crack open Villarreal's never-say-die defence, through both some last-stand work in the backline and a spot of wayward finishing of their own. It means we'll have an extra half-hour to see if these two teams can be split. The difference? The Yellow Submarine have made all their changes. United have a full roster on hand if needed.

FT: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

Pau Torres will try inside the box! It isn't as far away as it looks at first glance, but after the free-kick is speared in, he does flick it over the far corner. That will surely be the last chance before the final whistle goes.

Torres puts it over

Extra-time is looming in Gdansk. It has been a heroic effort by Villarreal, particularly in this second half when United have mounted increased chances to threaten them. They have a free-kick now, inside the first of three added minutes, after Fernandes is deemed to have taken Moi Gomez out in the air.

Three added minutes incoming

We perhaps did not expect to see this, but every Villarreal sub has been made now, and Manchester United are yet to use one. With that yellow card, Juan Foyth is off, as is&nbsp;Alfonso Pedraza. Club captain Mario Gaspar is one of the new faces, and&nbsp;Alberto Moreno also joins in. There's two minutes on the clock, with injury time to come.

ON: Alberto Moreno, Gaspar, OFF: Pedraza, Foyth

Juan Foyth thinks he has got away with one there after coming in on Luke Shaw with a studs-up challenge, but the referee brings it back for a yellow card and free-kick. Fernandes' delivery bounces around a few heads in the box but doesn't threaten Villarreal too much and Rashford then sticks a half-volley follow-up wide enough to drive a bus through it.

A Villarreal counter - one that almost reeks of&nbsp;desperation - wins them a fortunate free-kick as Bailly gets lazy with his challenge on Alcacer, and the Manchester United man is shown a yellow card. The delivery is straight down the throat of David De Gea who - that goal aside - has had a bit of a quiet night.

It's the McTominay-Cavani combo that nearly comes up for the Red Devils again! This time, the Scotland international races close to the right flank and cuts it back at the last possible moment for an attempted back-heel. It takes a deflection and tumbles away for a corner. United are unable to find a second but they are absolutely hammering Villarreal around their box right now. Pau Torres is leaving everything he can inside those 18 yards.

United go close again

Back-to-back corners for Villarreal, in what is a rare infringement in this half, comes to nothing for the Yellow Submarine and they prepare to make another two changes. Paco Alcacer and Moi Gomez are both on now. Is Unai Emery setting up for extra-time? There's a quarter-hour left for either side to ensure we don't get there.

ON: Alcacer, Moi Gomez, OFF: Pino, Trigueros

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">3 - Edinson Cavani has become the third player aged 34 or above to score in a major European final for an English club, after Gary McAllister (36) for Liverpool in the UEFA Cup final in 2000-01 and Didier Drogba (34) for Chelsea in the Champions League final in 2011-12. Leveller.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1397647985367035910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cavani joins senior select group

Oh, Marcus Rashford! That is an absolute sitter that the England man has just blown from six yards out. He may have been offside, but Bruno Fernandes had a hand in that and a lovely ball to the youngster in the middle is turned past the right post from almost dead in front, albeit under pressure from&nbsp;Rulli. Luke Shaw cuts into the box a moment later and lofts an effort towards the opposite right post, where Cavani's header smashes straight into Pau Torres. There's under 20 minutes left on the clock and this is balanced on a knife-edge.

Rashford snuffs a sitter

Capoue will do well to keep his wits about him, after he trims Fernandes down again with a rocky challenge. He's already on a booking and will have to be careful. Villarreal will need to watch their footing though. They repel the free-kick steadily, but United are looking the far hungrier team on the park.

Capoue close to a second yellow

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Edinson Cavani has scored 16 goals in his last 11 starts in the Europa League 🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/r8Vgk9kd2R">pic.twitter.com/r8Vgk9kd2R</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397649497178714127?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Cavani keeps Europa hot streak going

That goal has sparked the first change of the game - and given how United are continuing to grow into this one up front, it perhaps isn't too surprising to see defensive midfielder Francis&nbsp;Coquelin replace Carlos Bacca.&nbsp; It will mean that Villarreal shift to five at the back, as they look to resume their stranglehold on the Red Devils' attack. Is this the trick for Unai Emery?

There's a yard or so between the Uruguay star and a second goal for Manchester United in almost as many minutes now. A cut-back delivery finds Shaw, who squares it across the edge of the box for Fernandes to fire in off the right - but the ball is just behind Cavani and he can't reach back in time to divert it. The Portuguese, off-target frequently today, is fuming with himself at that effort.

Cavani crafting the comeback?

Edinson Cavani rides to the rescue for Manchester United! The corner is headed out as far as Marcus Rashford outside the penalty area and the England man fires into the crowded box. It takes a few deflections and falls at the feet of the Uruguay striker, who pivots and leathers it home at close-range. An absolute lifeline for the Red Devils, once more delivered by Edinson Express. It's all-square in Gdansk once more.

GOAL: Villarreal 1-1 Manchester United

Now that is much better from Manchester United! With a flash of urgency, Scott McTominay pops up in the box, turns three defenders around and fires a shot in from eight yards or so. It sails well over the crossbar, thanks to a large touch from Pau Torres, and the Red Devils pile into the box for a corner. Moments before,&nbsp; Etienne Capoue is shown the first booking of the game for a scrappy challenge on Fernandes.

YELLOW CARD: Villarreal 1-0 Manchester United

The&nbsp;pendulum swings back the other way now and United push forward. Pau Torres has to clip in from a Wan-Bissaka cross and then Greenwood appears to be caught in the box. There is hardly an appeal but when play comes to a halt a moment later, VAR takes a look at it. It deems there is no case to answer. Fernandes is less than impressed.

VAR: Villarreal 1-0 Manchester United

It's an absolute shambles at the back from Manchester United - and they ride their luck there! Villarreal cut in on the left and Bacca goes close. The ball squirrels around the six-yard area and at least three red-shirted bodies have to stop Moreno from firing in at close-range. The Yellow Submarine have executed a high press straight out of the gate. Are they going to play with more attacking freedom in this half?

United on the rack

Villarreal have emerged once more and the second half has kicked off in Poland. What do the Yellow Submarine have up their sleeve to keep the Red Devils at bay?

The Red Devils are back out in Gdansk, chatting on the field as they wait for their rivals to return. United's second-half record speaks for itself, of course. They put five past Roma in the second half of that first leg in the semi-final, remember. Don't expect that here, but surely they can offer a response. There are no changes to speak of yet.

Teams reemerge

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HT score: Villarreal 1-0 Man Utd FT score: __________<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/64S0tS7nmW">pic.twitter.com/64S0tS7nmW</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397642813085466625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

HT to FT?

What does Ole Gunnar Solskjaer do now? The players that fans typically cry out to come on and make an impact have nearly all started&nbsp; How about Juan Mata? The only other survivor of that 2017 triumph is on the bench, and could prove canny enough to cut through the defensive quagmire offered by Villarreal. Or do the existing players out on that pitch find the answer?

Changes at the break?

You'd be hard-pushed - very hard-pushed - to call this one a classic so far. Not that Villarreal and their fans will care. They have, for the most part, been in control of this game. They have restricted United's deliveries into the box, they've struck out when the opportunity has looked&nbsp;impeachable and they have a lead through the brilliant&nbsp;Gerard Moreno. Unai Emery will know this game is far from over however. His side have to be very cautious from here on out. They've wounded the Red Devils, but they are far from condemned.

One for the purists?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">4 - Villarreal boss Unai Emery has the won UEFA Europa League on three occasions (2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16) and could become the first manager to win either the UEFA Cup or UEFA Europa League four times, surpassing Giovanni Trapattoni. Supremacy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1397604007812780033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fab Four for Emery?

A final Villarreal corner is defused and referee&nbsp;Clément Turpin blows the whistle for half-time. Well, that was not the first half that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will have envisioned. He'll be hoping to not make it quite a pure repeat of '99 - that surely would be cutting it too close, even with Alex Ferguson in the ground. Villarreal, built around the middle like a brick outhouse, are good value for their lead. They have one hand on the Europa League trophy heading into the break.

HT: Villarreal 1-0 Manchester United

There's just not enough creative movement from United here, is there? It's going to take a bit more flair to open this up; Villarreal are just enforcing a particularly blocky setup to skilled effect. There's going to be two added minutes, which arrives moments after Rashford cuts open a half-chance by turning two defenders inside out and Greenwood sees a subsequent cross deflected into the goalkeeper's path. That could have gone anywhere.

Static shock for United

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Quite a lot of this so far.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UEL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UELfinal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UELfinal</a> <a href="https://t.co/n3fmdVoLHz">pic.twitter.com/n3fmdVoLHz</a>— Goal (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/goal/status/1397635998587162630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

An itty-bitty encounter

Villarreal, since their opener, have slipped back into their earlier patterns, holding the ball up where they can and otherwise allowing United to invite themselves into the final third - where virtually every outfield player is set up a big yellow wall. Are the Red Devils missing some big game experience? Only Pogba and Rashford started their Europa League triumph four years ago under Jose Mourinho. They seem a little short of ideas on how to finish up right now. The Yellow Submarine aren't quite as convincing as they could be when it comes to clearing their lines, but they've made no mistakes yet.

Villarreal unmoved in defence

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">30 - Gerard Moreno is the first player to score 30+ goals for Villarreal in a single season in all competitions since Giuseppe Rossi in 2010-11 (32). Submarine.— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1397637029215838211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Moreno hits magic milestone

Well, that wasn't in the script Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was dreaming of today, and the Norwegian is right out at the edge of his technical area.&nbsp; They have a lot of attacking flair out there - if anything to compensate for the lack of defensive stability without Harry Maguire - but they are finding every door shut in their face. Now, momentum is against them and they will need two to win. There's a long way to go still, but what could have been a molehill may become a mountain.

United rattled by early concession

Victor Lindelof, my word, what were you doing there?! A free-kick for Villarreal in midfield after Cavani brings down&nbsp;Daniel Parejo some distance out and the latter whistles a sold free-kick in. It's the sort that should be dealt with routinely - but instead, the centre-backs switch off and&nbsp;Gerard Moreno is allowed to get the run on him. The striker lunges out with a leg near the right post and tips the ball past David De Gea up into the top corner, wheeling away in mad celebration. The underdogs have the lead!

GOAL: Villarreal 1-0 Manchester United

Moments after Fernandes comes up just shy of a decent delivery into the six-yard area, Villarreal break back down the other end and teenager&nbsp;Pino flicks a flat shot across the face of De Gea's goal. It runs comfortably wide in the end, but the potential fragility of United's centre-back pairing was made readily apparent there. The Yellow Submarine look hungry to chase, and they're doing a good job at keeping this one a little bit scrappy too. It suits them more than the Red Devils.

Pino pops the cork

Now that is a bit of skill from&nbsp;Carlos Bacca! Back-to-back corners do not bring a clear chance for Villarreal, but the forward then takes advantage of a poor attempt to clear by Marcus Rashford. and puts a rabona cross of all things in for Pau Torres. The latter's looping header is off-target and way over the bar, but it is a cheeky piece of work to supply the opportunity. Edinson Cavani and Rashford then have half-chances down the opposite end that don't seriously threaten Villarreal. Cavani - playing in his first European final - will very much hope to make it one to remember in particular today.

Rabona klaxon!

Luke Shaw smashes a left-footed ball across the six-yard area now, after Villarreal head an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross straight to his feet, and Bruno Fernandes gets within touching distance of diverting it past&nbsp;Geronimo Rulli. The Yellow Submarine counter with a free-kick of their own and again work it for a corner off&nbsp;Bailly. The noise inside&nbsp;Stadion Miejski ramps up a notch as they move to take it.

Shaw leads Red Devils response

For the first time in earnest now, Villarreal stretch their feet into United territory and win a free-kick for a lazy&nbsp;Eric Bailly challenge. From that, they work themselves up for a corner of their own. It goes long and&nbsp;Manu Trigueros comes steaming in on the far side of the box, only to spray his half-cocked finish well into the stand behind. It serves as a friendly reminder though that Villarreal won't want for chances in this game like some think they might. Juan Foyth meanwhile has got a bloody nose from that earlier knock - and it is still coming too.

Trigueros spearheads Yellow Submarine sneak

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">1 - Aged 18 years and 218 days, <a href="https://twitter.com/Eng_Villarreal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eng_Villarreal</a>'s Yeremi Pino will be the youngest ever Spanish player to start a major European final, breaking the previous record held by Iker Casillas (19 years and 4 days in 2000 Champions League final). Intrepid. <a href="https://t.co/HnOxwabXif">pic.twitter.com/HnOxwabXif</a>— OptaJose (@OptaJose) <a href="https://twitter.com/OptaJose/status/1397618003051794433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="async" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Young Guns (Go For It)

Foyth is fortunately fine - fears of a knee or head injury are unfounded in the end - and United resume their push to keep Villarreal restricted to their rear third of the pitch. Etienne Capoue concedes a corner off Mason Greenwood but Villarreal do well to repel it, before Pogba is flagged for offside on the left edge of the penalty area, running on to a looping delivery. They're proving why they are a difficult side to break down so far, even if they haven't really got out of their own half.