Manchester United moved close to a Champions League quarter-final place after a 3-0 away win over Atletico Madrid, as goals from Elisabeth Terland, Melvine Malard and Julia Zigiotti gave Marc Skinner’s side a strong lead in the knockout play-off tie.
The result means Manchester United will welcome Atletico Madrid to England next Thursday with a three-goal cushion, knowing the winners of this play-off will meet Bayern Munich in the last eight of the Champions League.
Malard played a central role in Madrid, creating two goals and scoring once, which helped cover the absence of Fridolina Rolfo, who had delivered the winner when these sides met in October and had contributed to four Manchester United Champions League goals earlier in the campaign.
The opening goal arrived inside three minutes at Centro Deportivo Wanda Alcala de Henares, when Malard slipped a pass to Terland, who created room and drove a precise finish into the top-right corner, giving Manchester United early control in the Spanish capital.
| Match | Competition | Score | Goal Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United | Champions League knockout play-off, first leg | 0-3 | Terland, Malard, Zigiotti |
| Juventus vs Wolfsburg | Champions League knockout play-off, first leg | 2-2 | Ana Capeta, Amalie Vangsgaard; Janina Minge, Sarai Linder |
Terland thought another goal had arrived soon after, but that effort was disallowed for offside, before Manchester United increased the advantage six minutes before half-time when Malard collected possession on the edge of the area and curled a shot beyond goalkeeper Lola Gallardo.
Atletico Madrid tried to reduce the deficit before the return leg, and Vilde Boe Risa came very close to doing so when a powerful effort crashed against the crossbar, yet Manchester United instead extended the lead in the closing stages as Zigiotti struck firmly from inside the box after more effective approach play from Malard.
The other Champions League play-off first leg on Thursday produced late drama, as Wolfsburg came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw against Juventus, who had built a strong position through strikes from Ana Capeta and Amalie Vangsgaard, only for Janina Minge’s penalty and Sarai Linder’s goal in the 95th minute to level the tie heading into next week.
Thank you for your support in Madrid, Reds pic.twitter.com/n4t4hTiHA3Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) February 12, 2026
Manchester United’s defensive record in this season’s Champions League continues to look strong, with four clean sheets collected from seven matches, and this latest shutout, combined with the attacking influence of Malard and the depth shown without Rolfo, places Skinner’s squad in a strong position ahead of the second leg against Atletico Madrid and a potential quarter-final against Bayern Munich.
