Match report
That is all from me today but fear not, the football continues. Join Rob Smyth as the defending champions, Arsenal, have just kicked off at Benfica.
It is still very early in the league phase but victory tonight means United join Barcelona, Wolfsburg and Lyon as the only teams to win their first two matches of the WCL this season. Real Madrid and Juventus could join them with wins tonight.
Full-time: Atlético Madrid 0-1 Manchester United
There is the whistle and what a relief for United. They were down to 10 players late in the first half when Janssen was controversially sent off after a stunning Rolfö volley gave them the lead. But the visitors defended valiantly in the second half to hang on to another narrow victory in the Champions League. Three more massive points for Skinner’s side.
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90+3 min: Tullis-Joyce makes another big stop to deny a 1v1 opportunity! Víctor Martín gets a booking on the touchline as he thinks there was a foul from that save.
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90+1 min: Luany gets booked for a foul from behind on Le Tissier. Tempers flare a bit as she tries to argue her way out of the book.
90 min: Loud whistles ring out as Tullis-Joyce takes her time with a goal-kick. We are getting at least four minutes of injury time. United have done so well to hold on to this lead. Can they see it out?
86 min: The hosts make a triple change with Fiamma, Bøe Risa and Lauren coming off for Vitória, Bartel and Pérez. United also make a change as Malard makes way for Williams.
84 min: Malard! The Frenchwoman is 1v1 as she drives forward but she can’t quite get the precision on it to make it 2-0. That is her second big chance of the game.
80 min: Atlético win another corner but United manage to clear their lines after the ball bobs around in the box.
79 min: Malard has a shot blocked from distance but she was offside anyway.
77 min: United are immediately much more attacking minded, already pushing higher up the pitch.
SECOND YELLOW! Atlético's Fernández is sent off
Fernández is booked again after mistiming a challenge on Galton. It is her second yellow card and she is down the tunnel after some initial confusion. 10 v 10 for the final 15 minutes of the game.
72 min: Lloris tries to curl it in the corner but Tullis-Joyce, doing everything she has been asked of so far, makes the save.
66 min: A good ball in for Gabi to try to get on the end of but Riviere is able to stick with her player. The defender clutches her back but she seems OK to continue. Atlético now make a change with Jensen coming off for Guijarro.
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64 min: Galton comes on for the goalscorer Rolfö.
63 min: Atlético win a free-kick from the right but Lauren cannot get direct her header on target.
58 min: From the corner it seems about all ten Atlético outfield players attempt to poke the ball in. Eventually the final shot from Silvia Lloris is deflected wide. Let off for United.
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57 min: Huge save! Luany again at the heart of Atlético’s attack. This time she takes the shot herself after a quick one-two and Tullis-Joyce is forced to make an acrobatic save to push the strike over the bar.
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53 min: Fernández gets booked for a push behind on Rolfö.
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50 min: Lauren lets it fly from distance but it’s well wide. United are very compact at the back now and much more disciplined, no free-roaming full-backs in this half.
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47 min: Atlético with their best chance of the game. Luany makes a low cross into the box and Jensen’s shot is wide.
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We are back underway in the second half! Skinner has made two changes after the red card. Toone and Terland have been replaced by George and Naalsund.
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Half-time post bag has arrived!
Shruti’s thoughts on the red card:
Am I the only one that thought that Jayde’s challenge, which only earned her a yellow, was more deserving of a red than Dominique’s. Baffling decision! But am intrigued to see how Skinner plays this now that we are down to 10 players.
Riviere was certainly lucky to only get away with a yellow after her challenge earlier in the half. The commentators were discussing whether Janssen’s red was only dished out due to the severity of Gio’s injury.
And Peter on the WCL’s new rights holders:
Didn’t know the Guardian had done a piece on these new kids on the block (see post at 17.16 BST on Tom Garry’s comment piece) but as I’m too late to comment on that piece, I thought I’d tell you mine.
It had all the faults I’ve got used to from all other coverage of football: endless replays while the game’s going on; endless shots of the managers, while the game’s going on; and shots of random people in the crowd, yes, while the game’s going on. Please, JUST SHOW THE BLOODY FOOTBALL.
I could add the glee with which the commentators met Twente’s goal last week and the disappointment in their voices when Chelsea equalised, but I guess you’ll put that down to my bias.
Could not agree more, Peter. Was a glaring fault last week, though will say today’s coverage has been a bit better when it comes to not showing replays while the ball is in play. Long may it continue.
Half-time: Atlético Madrid 0-1 Manchester United
It was a strong start for Manchester United and they were rewarded for their efforts with a first goal in United colours from Rolfö – a thumping volley in the 25th minute.
But it has since slightly turned sideways after Janssen was sent off for an awkward tackle, reducing the visitors to 10 players. Can Atlético take advantage in the second half?
45+5 min: The corner clearance falls to Luany who takes a low shot but there is little power behind it and Tullis-Joyce makes the easy save.
45+3 min: Medina swings a stunning cross in but Jensen is not able to keep it down. The hosts now have a corner. But before that a yellow card comes out for someone on United’s coaching staff.
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45 min: The VAR check is complete – no penalty – and seven minutes of stoppage time have been added on. The hosts are scrambling, desperate for an equaliser now that they have the numbers advantage.
42 min: Huge scramble after the free-kick gets taken as the hosts almost level before Tullis-Joyce gathers and wins a free-kick on the line.
But now VAR are looking at a handball situation …
RED CARD! United's Janssen sent off after VAR review
The other angle that we have just seen shows that Gio is clipped quite harshly on her ankle. And here comes the referee after watching the replay several times … She rescinds the yellow card and out comes the red. United were well on top and now the game has been flipped on its head.
Gio is now being stretchered off. Portales comes on in her place.
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39 min: Gio is still down and receiving treatment. Her face is covered by her hands. Meanwhile, the referee has now been sent to the screen. Is this going to be changed to a red card?!
37 min: Gio almost gets past Janssen and the latter sticks out a leg out to prevent her from coming across. The United defender gets a yellow and the hosts have a free-kick in a dangerous area on the right side of the box.
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34 min: How is it not 2-0?! Malard and Zigiotti Olme link up for a quick give-and-go. The former, right in front of goal, tries to hit it with the outside of her boot and the ball dribbles just wide. So close!
33 min: The referee blows her whistle after Medina tries to jump for the ball and falls on Riviere in the process. It has been an intriguing battle between the two so far.
28 min: It is a deserved lead for United, who have had four attempts on goal compared with Atlético’s one despite having less of the ball. They have found their rhythm and their tactic of pressing and crowding the opposition box has worked well so far.
GOAL! Atlético Madrid 0-1 Manchester United (Rolfö 24)
It has been coming! From the right Zigiotti Olme’s curls it in and Toone attempt to head it down. It falls to Rolfö invitingly and from the volley, she hammers it into the roof of the net to score her first goal for Manchester United.
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24 min: Just the final passing missing from United at the moment. After some good play in midfield the ball dribbles out for a goal-kick after some miscommunication on the left flank.
19 min: Riviere gets the first yellow of the game for a foul on Medina. She cannot complain really, the Canadian completely mistimed the tackle and wiped out her opponent.
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16 min: Fiamma denied! She arrives into the box with plenty of space but her shot is blocked by Le Tissier.
14 min: Jensen thinks she gets the better of Le Tissier as the United captain falls but the referee blows the whistle for a foul.
10 min: Atlético get forward but Le Tissier is able to clear the danger.
7 min: After some patient buildup play from United Terland shrugs off her defender before laying it off to Rolfö. The Swede takes a touch and curls it wide at the far post.
4 min: Terland tries to get on the end of a great through ball from Toone but Lola Gallardo gets there first. Riviere then intercepts the ball and finds space to hit a cross but it is cleared away.
2 min: We get confirmation just now that concussion protocol has led to Jess Park not being in the matchday squad. Rolfö is her replacement up top in Skinner’s sole XI change.
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1 min: 18sec on the clock and Malard flicks it off to Toone whose shot is just wide! A quick start from the visitors.
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Kick-off: Atlético Madrid 0-0 Manchester United
Here we go! The referee blows the whistle and we are underway. Atlético in their traditional red and white tops with blue shorts while United don their all-black third kit.
Some pre-match post bag from all of you.
Marc (Skinner?) sends his prediction:
United have been a lot of fun to watch this season, in my very biased opinion. I have been so pleased with our defensive structure. Tonight is probably our biggest challenge though. Up the reds!
And Amy checks in from Madrid:
I am at the Centro Deportivo Wanda Alcalá de Henares (what a mouthful) as a neutral – tickets were quite affordable – and it might be a small stadium but the Spanish fans I have seen are loud! Hopefully they keep up the tempo throughout the 90.
Here is what Marc Skinner had to say in yesterday’s pre-match press conference.
We’re excited. We’re looking forward to playing Atléti, fantastic team, fantastic club. We’re really looking forward to it. We know how good we are, we believe in ourselves, we also know we’re facing a really tough challenge. Tomorrow night will be a really good challenge for us – everyone is raring to go.
[Atlético Madrid] have an incredible attack. They have flair, they have aggression, they are very evasive. They have got Vilde Bøe Risa, who used to play for Manchester United and is a wonderful footballer. They defend very well as well, so they have quite a good balance. I think we have to defend well tomorrow night because of the threats they have. Also, with the ball, I think they have to be aware of us. We’ve spoken about it, we have to be focused and defensively alert because Atléti can spring counterattacks quickly and have the ability to beat you one v one. Also, in front of their fans, I think it will be a good atmosphere. We see a lot threats, but also hopefully we can give them our threats too.
Tonight’s broadcast of Atlético Madrid v Manchester United is available to watch on Disney+ after they acquired rights across multiple European territories. Tom Garry’s verdict? An intriguing collaboration but room for growth.
Chelsea were in WCL action last night, cruising to a 4-0 win against Paris FC. Sophie Downey was at the Bridge to watch it unfold.
Their pressure eventually told, however, when Nüsken went down in the box with half an hour played. The offence from Le Moguédec was not initially spotted by the referee, Michalina Diakow, but after a brief trip to the VAR monitor, she duly pointed to the spot. Baltimore stepped up to convert for the second week in a row.
Chelsea consolidated their advantage just before the break when Thompson broke forward at pace. A clever turn gave her space to stand up a cross for Rytting Kaneryd to loop a header home. The winger looked slightly bemused that it had ended up in the back of the net, celebrating with an expression that said she is not accustomed to scoring with her head.
Read the full report below.
Team news
Atlético Madrid XI: Lola Gallardo; Fernández, Lauren, Silvia Lloris, Medina; García, Bøe Risa, Fiamma; Luany, Glo Garbelini, Jensen
Subs: Patricia Larqué, Bucero, Pérez, Guijarro, Vitória, Bartel, Portales, Sarriegi, Gomez, Rodríguez, Miñambres
Manchester United XI: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier, Janssen, Sandberg; Miyazawa, Zigiotti Olme, Toone; Malard, Terland, Rolfö
Subs: Rendell, Middleton-Patel, George, Blundell, Galton, Awujo, Naalsund, Williams
Referee: Eleni Antoniou (Greece)
United’s injury issues means they are unable to name an entire substitute list, with only eight players out of a possible 11 on the bench.
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Atlético Madrid will be hoping to put their 6-0 home loss to the Liga F leaders, Barcelona, on Sunday. They now sit third in the league, seven points away from top.
Víctor Martín’s side will be looking to right the weekend’s wrongs against United in their first meeting against an English team in Europe since losing to Chelsea in the last 16 in 2021-22. That loss was Madrid’s only one of their previous six contests against English sides.
Preamble
It has been a good week for Manchester United. Last Wednesday Marc Skinner’s side made their debut in the Women’s Champions League after qualifying for the main phase of the tournament for the first time in their history. It was not particularly thrilling but a Maya Le Tissier penalty was enough for the hosts to earn the win against Vålerenga.
Four days later a Jess Park double saw out a commanding 4-1 away victory against Everton, the hosts’ first beside the docks at Hill Dickinson Stadium, to preserve their unbeaten start to the league season.
Now United are back in Champions League action and face a huge test against Atlético Madrid on matchday two. The Spanish side won their first league phase match 6-0 at St Pölten in which they were three up within 22 minutes.
We get underway in Madrid at 5.45pm BST. In the meantime feel free to get in touch with any thoughts or predictions via email.
