Thank you for joining me for this first leg. An impressive display from Manchester United have set them on the path for the quarter-finals where Bayern Munich await. But Atlético Madrid will try and put themselves in the last eight next week by turning over their 3-0 deficit. For all the action from tonight’s game have a read of the report below. We will be back next week with the second leg of this tie and that of Arsenal v Leuven, see you then.
Manchester United star Melvine Malard , who is player of the match,told Disney +: “I think we played well today, we scored early. I said I will work hard and when I play I am so happy. I feel free.”
Atlético Madrid’s manager Jose Herrera, who suffered his first loss as boss this evening, told Disney +: “We think in the first half we were too reactive, we need to understand when and how to jump. In the first half they pushed us so much. I think in the second half you can see a different reality. They were clinical with their chances.”
Whoever wins the tie next week, and it is looking very likely to be Manchester United, they will face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.
Unsure who was given player of the match but I would have given it to Melvine Malard. She was so impressive this evening, though Maya Le Tissier was also a highlight.
Full time: Atlético Madrid 0-3 Manchester United
That was a clinical performance from Manchester United. The only negative they will take is Anna Sandberg’s potential injury. For Atlético they have an absolute mountain to climb in Manchester and it would be an almighty result if they can overturn this.
90 + 3 min: How does this half have more injury time than the first half? I have no idea but we play on and Atlético look to cut the deficit. Fiamma, who has been good for the hosts this evening, takes a turn but the shot doesn’t have enough power to trouble Tullis-Joyce.
90 + 1 min: There will be four minutes added.
90 min: This evening is just not the night for Atlético. They have had so many chances but they haven’t had the final touch to finish them off. United on the other hand have made their shots count and they are in firm control of this tie.
88 min: The delivery is short and it is swooped into the area but George reads it well to see it out for another corner. It comes in again and it is a mess in the area but it is eventually cleared.
87 min: I am going to sound like DJ Khaled as we have ‘another one’ in terms of a corner. Gio had a punt and it’s judged Tullis-Joyce got a touch on it.
86 min: Le Tissier gives away another corner and this could be the hosts moment. However, Tullis-Joyce plucks it out of the sky and the chance is gone.
85 min: It is going to be a tough ask for Atlético to come back from this deficit. It is not impossible but to make their life easier in Manchester next week a goal in this game would help them heaps.
83 min: Awujo is on for Park as United look to see out this first leg.
Apologies it was Zigiotti, Malard had a lovely back pass to her and she slams it home. That could be the tie.
GOAL! Atlético Madrid 0-3 Manchester United (Zigiotti)
82 min: Malarad finds Zigiotti.
Updated
80 min: I say that to make the point of how impressive they have been this season, especially against teams like Atlético who have experience of knockout football in Europe. The hosts are once again throwing absolutely everything they have at their opponents but the United backline are incredible.
78 min: It is a bit bonkers to think this is the first season United are competing in the proper competition of the Champions League.
76 min: Gio is immediately in on the action and she gets the best of Park. The former Arsenal player picks out Otermin but Le Tissier sees it out for another corner. The set piece ball gets into the area but Tullis-Joyce collects.
75 min: Guijarro and Gio are on for the hosts now as they look to hit back. Gio is back for the first time since October after she broke her leg against United in the league stage.
73 min: United relief some pressure with a free kick of their own after a yellow card is given to Sarriegi after a challenge. It is sent in and Le Tissier gets a touch on it but Gallardo saves. The hosts use it quickly and Jensen’s attempt just squeaks over the bar. Absolutely end-to-end right now.
71 min: The corner is sent in and Lauren hits the deck, she wants a penalty but the referee is having none of it.
71 min: The hosts have another set piece and Boe Risa sends it in, this time from a lot further out. It finds Kuhl but her attempt is wide and Tullis-Joyce saves. Her resulting goal kick finds Jensen who unleashes an attack but Le Tissier sees it out for another corner.
69 min: No matter what Atlético have tried this evening United have been able to repel it. This has been, so far anyway, a really well drilled performance from the English club.
67 min: It has started to rain in Madrid so the pitch will be getting worse out there.
66 min: Wow. What a save from Tullis-Joyce. Boe Risa goes for goal herself from the free kick and the keeper pushes it onto the bar, incredible. It is out for a corner, the delivery is not great and Le Tissier clears.
64 min: The further we get into the game, the more the belief starts to leave the hosts. Their fight hasn’t dimmed but the crowd are much quieter and the buzz around the team has gone. However, this might bring some spark back as Riviere gives away a foul with a free kick in a great position.
62 min: Atlético want a penalty but George’s challenge is absolutely fine and then United make a change with Wangerheim for Naalsun.
60 min: Kuhl and Otermin are on for Menayo and Bartel before the hosts have a free kick after they peeled away following United’s corner. They take it quickly but are forced back to their keeper.
58 min: Malard wins a corner as United continue to turn the screw, the delivery is good and a few players hit the floor but it’s cleared. Terland wants a penalty but nothing is given.
56 min: United keep up their pressure and Wangerheim weaves her way through some players to pass to Park but her shot is wide.
54 min: United are threading a lot of passes together in some patient build-up play but it ends in Gallardo’s hands.
52 min: Tullis-Joyce makes a save as the hosts look to strike while United temporarily switch off, the chances are going to become fewer and fewer as the game rolls on and so Atlético need to strike when they can.
50 min: The corner is delivered well and it is scrappy in there but the hosts eventually win a free kick and Gallardo can clear.
49 min: Sandberg limps to the sideline and she is going to be replaced by George.
48 min: Play has not got underway as Sandberg is down and receiving treatment.
47 min: A lovely move sees Riviere given a great chance, she makes a great run and keeps going. The defender takes a shot but Gallardo saves well but it is out for a corner.
Back underway: Atlético Madrid 0-2 Manchester United
Can the hosts get back into this? Or will Manchester United seal the tie before the second leg? All to come.
Here’s a piece to read before this game gets back underway:
Half-time: Atlético Madrid 0-2 Manchester United
Well what a half it has been for the visitors. A goal from Elisabeth Terland in the third minute backed up by a lovely bit of skill from Melvine Malard. Atlético have thrown a lot at United but they have managed to handle it so far.
45 + 3 min: Possession going back and forth with the game getting a little scrappy as we head towards half-time.
45 + 1 min: There will be three minutes added which is not surprising after that lengthy VAR check earlier and some injuries in this half.
45 min: Lloris is walking around the pitch, being helped by medical staff and she is crying. Such a sad sight, she is replaced by Perez.
43 min: Lloris is still on the side of the pitch but the hosts also have not replaced her yet, it is unclear if she will continue.
42 min: The goal itself was a beautiful strike, Malard got in a good position and absolutely walloped it in the top right corner. The goal will stand as it wasn’t a foul from Malard.
41 min: Atlético want that ruled out as Lloris was down injured, she looks like she is in a lot of pain. Hopefully she is okay, a lot of her teammates have surrouned her.
Updated
GOAL! Atlético Madrid 0-2 Manchester United (Melvine Malard)
40 min: What a goal from the French international.
Updated
38 min: United win a free kick after a foul on Zigiotti from Sarriegi, though it is a bit of a soft one. It’s a long way out so United have to build, they edge up the pitch but then stall.
36 min: Ah the young girl is back to shout her support to the hosts, it’s amazing to see so many fans in the stadium but the megaphone is a lot. Anyone else watching feeling my pain? Email me and let me know.
34 min: A poor clearance from United puts the hosts in a good position but they are forced back to their own keeper thanks to the defence from the visitors.
32 min: The free kick is popped in but the referee blows her whistle, I think because of some pushing and shoving so they set up the set piece again. It comes in and Lauren gets her head to it but it’s wide.
30 min: It sounds like a young girl is on a megaphone at the ground, starting to get a little jarring just listening from home so who knows what it is like in the stadium. Thankfully it sounds like it has now been taken off of her as the hosts launch their latest attack. Fernandez looked to pass forward but before they can Malard gives away a free kick.
29 min: United are taking the sting out of this, they are weathering the Atlético storm really well.
27 min: I think it was a clash of knees with Park which caused the injury, Fiamma looks okay to continue. She has been taped up and she will be back in the fray soon.
26 min: United peeled forward in an attack which ended in a goal kick but in the build-up Fiamma seems to have hurt herself. The hosts will be hoping she is okay to continue, she has been such a bright spark.
25 min: Atlético have introduced a new tactic which is really working, they are not letting United players have any time on the ball. Their high press is forcing them into bad passes and they are pouncing but they are yet to hit the net to make all of the good work count.
23 min: United have settled proceedings slightly as Atlético really started to get a hold of this fixture, Fiamma is a particular star for the hosts so far.
21 min: Atlético continue to build and Fiamma takes a punt just outside of the area but it’s wide.
20 min: The hosts are really growing into this game, they have had much more possession over the last few minutes. Just an equaliser missing.
18 min: It is end-to-end at the moment and Janssen puts in a foul and so Atlético have a free kick. Boe Risa sends it in but it ends with United given a free kick after Malard hits the deck.
17 min: Atlético keep up the pressure and it takes some good defence from Sandberg to keep Sarriegi out, she concedes a corner though. They take it short but it is eventually popped into the area but again United are wise to it. The visitors try and hit back quickly but Sandberg, who seems to be everywhere, has a shot saved.
15 min: The delivery is good from Menayo, it’s a bit scrappy in the box but eventually United hack it clear.
14 min: Fiamma has some beautiful footwork to keep the ball in play and it sets up an attack which ends in a corner.
12 min: A lovely pass from Zigiotti finds Malard and some fast feet sees her in the box. She pops a shot in but it’s well saved.
10 min: No goal. Initially Terland is not offside but Wangerheim heads it forward and it is at that moment that Terland is offside so it is not a goal but a continued good start from the visitors.
10 min: This is taking quite a long time, boos coming in from the crowd.
8 min: Oh my word Terland thought she had a second but the referee blows her whistle for offside. We do have VAR in operation so they will look at this now.
8 min: United peel forward again and it is Malard who is creating it once more. She finds Sandberg but her resulting cross is headed clear.
6 min: The hosts win a free kick after Wangerheim fouls Medina. They take it quickly but United snuff out the chance.
5 min: Well what a start from the visitors. Marc Skinner had said they were gunning for the win and not sitting back for a draw away from home and they have underlined that intent early.
United’s former player Boe Risa gives away with ball to Malard and she passes to Terland who finishes well. Wow.
GOAL! Atlético Madrid 0-1 Manchester United (Elisabeth Terland)
3 min: Oh my what an error.
Updated
2 min: The pitch is not up to a good standard after some rain has caused some chaos, it is incredibly muddy.
Kick-off: Atlético Madrid 0-0 Manchester United
Here we go. A reminder that whoever wins this tie will play Bayern Munich in the last eight.
I share the same last name as one of Manchester United’s substitute keepers in Kayla Rendell, no relation though. Do you have a family connection to a footballer or have a similar name and try to pass yourself off as say Sam Kerr’s cousin? Get in touch and let me know by emailing.
A great feature here about the new format:
Arsenal took a huge step forward towards the last eight int heir first leg against Leuven last night, you can catch up with that action:
The earlier kick-off between Wolfsburg and Juventus has been entertaining. Ana Capeta put the Italian visitors ahead in the sixth minute and Amalie Vangsgaard doubled their lead in the second half but the German club managed to equalise thanks to goals from Janina Minge and Sarai Linder. Linder’s equaliser was one of the last plays of the match. Next week’s second leg will be an interesting and tight watch.
Manchester United manager Marc Skinner has spoken on the club’s intent this evening: “I think Atleti’s ability to attack and change the game directly [is the main challenge they pose]. I think the front two are lively and creative. Obviously, we know Vilde Boe Risa very well, who can, given time, find passes on a dime. So, for us, it’s about recognising how to try and control the game but then put our stance on the game as well. Recognise the quality they have, but put ours into the game, go and attack them. I don’t think you can sit and try and draw any of these legs, I think both teams will try and win both legs. And if you can do that, I think you’re probably going to have the best chance of progressing.”
Atletico Madrid have had a change of manager since they last player Manchester United. Jose Herrera took over from Victor Martin in January and he is yet to lose since taking charge.
Rolfo was the scorer when these two clubs met in the league phase, you can re-read what happened on that day in October here:
Fridolina Rolfo is not available for Manchester United this evening, here is the manager Marc Skinner on why: “Only Frido had a little knock from the weekend, so she’ll miss out on this game. Leah [Galton] and Tooney [Ella Toone] are the only other absentees.”
The team news is in. Atletico Madrid make no changes from their 1-0 win over Levante on Sunday.
AM: Gallardo, Medina, Leal, Menayo, S Lloris, Alexia, Boe Risa, J Bartel, Fiamma, Jensen, Amaiur.
Bench: Larque, Xenia, Sheila, Kuhl, Otermin, Chinchilla, Gio, Portales, Natalia, Alba, Minambres.
Manchester United, meanwhile, have made three changes to their line-up to the one who played Leicester on Saturday. Lea Schuller, Hanna Lundvist and Lisa Naalsund drop to the bench with Ellen Wangerheim, Elisabeth Terland and Jayde Riviere starting.
Man Utd: Tullis-Joyce, Sandberg, Le Tissier, Park, Malard, Terland, Riviere, Janssen, Zigiotti, Wangerheim, Hinata.
Bench: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Lundkvist, Turner, Awujo, Naalsund, Schuller.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to this Women’s Champions League play-off between Atletico Madrid and Manchester United. The two clubs are playing in a two-leg play-off to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
The last time the Spanish side reached the last eight was in the 2019/20 season, while the English club have never reached that point in a Champions League season before.
Atletico Madrid most recently won against Levante in Liga F and are fifth in the table, 23 points off of Barcelona at the top. Manchester United are in better form in the WSL as they sit second and eight points behind Manchester City.
But the Champions League is an entirely different beast and both clubs will want to give themselves the best chance of winning the tie by recording a good result this evening. Kick-off is coming at 8pm GMT but before that we have some team news.
