United start first Champions League campaign with a win

Manchester United 1 - 0 Valerenga

United made a winning Women's Champions League debut as Maya le Tissier's first-half penalty proved enough to see off Norwegian side Valerenga.

Author | Liam C

Stadium | Leigh Sports Village Stadium

Making their first appearance in Europe's most prestigious club competition, Marc Skinner's side dominated for long periods but struggled to open up a compact Valerenga side who were happy to defend their own penalty area.

With Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Wolfsburg and French heavyweights Paris St-Germain and Lyon to face in the six-match opening stage, United needed a win to give them a realistic chance of securing a top-12 berth, which would earn at least a play-off next year for a quarter-final spot.

Le Tissier delivered it, keeping her nerve to send Tove Enblom the wrong way from the spot after Arna Eiriksdottir was harshly ruled to have handled a pass from Julia Zigiotti Olme that was intended for Elisabeth Terland.

United's Melvine Malard wasted a couple of opportunities before Le Tissier struck, and Jess Park had a shot saved at the start of the second half before setting up Terland, whose effort was blocked.

Valerenga finished the game strongly and United survived a scare in the final stages when substitute Elise Thorsnes burst to the edge of the penalty area, only to drag her shot wide.

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Head coach Marc Skinner has been vocal about the need for reinforcements in January, and this performance offered a clear illustration of why.

Although United merited their victory, it was a laboured display. They were often drawn into playing too narrowly, allowing Valerenga’s compact defence to contain them with relative ease.

Most of United’s efforts came from long range, while Elisabeth Terland, after a bright start to the season, has now gone four games without finding the net.

This was United’s tenth match of the campaign. They have produced some impressive results and suffered only one defeat – away to Brann in the first leg of the final Champions League qualifier – but signs of fatigue are beginning to show.

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Skinner’s bench was limited to eight substitutes, including two goalkeepers, whereas Valerenga were able to name the full complement of eleven.

The Norwegian side finished the match the stronger, and had Elise Thorsnes shown the same composure as Le Tissier earlier in the game, they might have claimed a draw. Instead, her effort went astray.

For Skinner, the task now is to inject renewed energy into his side to sustain their early momentum, while ensuring the club provides the reinforcements he has long called for when the transfer window opens in January.