Manchester United claimed a crucial 1–0 victory away to Atlético Madrid in a dramatic and physical encounter that saw both sides reduced to ten players. Rolfö’s first-half volley proved decisive, while goalkeeper Tullis Joyce delivered a standout performance to keep the Spanish side at bay. In a match full of chances, red cards, and momentum swings, United’s resilience saw them through to all three points on the road. Read our full match report on Atlético Madrid vs. Manchester United in the Women’s Champions League here.
Match Highlights
- Rolfö found the back of the net for Manchester United.
- Despite an early red card for Dominique Janssen, Man Utd held onto the 1-0 lead and took home three points.
Manchester United Open the Scoring
Manchester United came flying out of the blocks in this clash with Atlético Madrid, imposing their high press and intensity from the first whistle. The English side looked sharp despite the absence of Jess Park, who missed out due to concussion protocol. She was replaced in the starting lineup by Rolfö.
United’s early dominance translated into a series of chances for Toone, Malard, Rolfö and Terland, but Atlético also showed their attacking intent, moving the ball with pace and creating opportunities of their own. Tullis Joyce was called into action several times, making solid saves, while the United backline stood firm with crucial blocks.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute for Manchester United. Zigiotti Olme delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post, where Ella Toone rose to meet it. Although her header was blocked, the rebound fell kindly to Rolfö, who made no mistake with a clean volley into the back of the net to make it 1–0.
Not long after, United nearly doubled their lead. Zigiotti Olme and Malard combined brilliantly down the right flank, with the Swedish international threading a perfect ball through to Malard. Through on goal, Malard struck low, but her effort drifted just wide of the far post.
First Red Card of the Game
The game took a dramatic turn when VAR intervened. The referee was sent to the screen to review a challenge by Janssen on Gio just outside the box. Despite Janssen appearing to pull back, replays showed her catching Gio’s ankle awkwardly. The decision was a straight red card, and Gio had to be stretchered off, and replaced by Macarena Portales. A harsh call, perhaps, but one the video officials deemed necessary.
From the resulting free kick, Atlético nearly responded instantly. A chaotic scramble in the box saw Tullis-Joyce just manage to gather the ball under pressure. Another VAR check followed for a potential handball in the buildup, but the decision was no penalty.
With Manchester United being down to 10 players, Atlético Madrid rallied impressively. The red card seemed to shift the momentum in their favor, as they adapted quickly and pressed United back. The halftime whistle came at a crucial moment for Marc Skinner’s side, who will need to regroup and respond to the shift in momentum after a dramatic and eventful first half.
Holding onto the Lead
Manchester United began the second half with two changes from Marc Skinner, introducing Gabby George and Lisa Naalsund to add defensive solidity, replacing Ella Toone and Elisabeth Terland.
Atlético Madrid came out with clear attacking intent, pushing hard for an equalizer. The hosts applied early pressure, and came close when Luany unleashed a powerful strike with the outside of her foot. It forced a sharp save from Tullis Joyce, who once again came to her side’s rescue to preserve the lead.
As the second half wore on, Atlético dominated possession and momentum, taking advantage of their extra player to try and overwhelm United. But despite the numerical disadvantage, the visitors held their shape impressively. The back line stood strong, and Tullis Joyce remained a commanding presence in goal, dealing confidently with crosses, shots, and set pieces.
Second Red Card of the Game
In the 73rd minute, the balance of the match shifted once again. Alexia Fernández, already on a yellow card, brought down Leah Galton in midfield and was shown a second yellow, bringing both sides down to ten players for the final stretch. The dismissal offered Manchester United some much-needed breathing space.
The red card sparked a resurgence from the visitors, who began to regain control. With eight minutes to go, they nearly sealed the win. A brilliant piece of defensive work by Galton turned into a quick counter, releasing Malard down the flank. She cut inside her marker and looked destined to score, but once again her finish drifted just wide, echoing her earlier miss in the first half.
Despite four minutes of added time and renewed pressure from Atlético, Manchester United stood firm. Their defensive discipline, combined with key saves from Tullis Joyce and a tireless team effort, ensured they saw out the game and secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory on the road.
How to watch the Women’s Champions League?
All the matches are available on Disney+. If you’re considering to use a VPN service: We recommend NordVPN, it isn’t free, but it’s safe and cheaper than juggling multiple subscriptions that may still only cover part of the schedule.
Leave a Reply