Key events
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.
