Manchester United Women v OL Lyonnes match programme, UWCL, 10.12.25 by Manchester United Football Club

INSide

YOUR MATCH PROGRAMME

HEAD

COLUMN

TALK OF THE TERRACE

SKINNER Marc

AS WE TAKE ON THE UWCL’S MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM, TONIGHT’S FIXTURE GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW EXACTLY WHY WE BELONG IN THIS COMPETITION...

Welcome back to the Progress With Unity Stadium, where we are all set for an exciting night under the lights.

This game with Lyon is one of those games we have worked so hard for. These are the challenges we want to face. Lyon are one of the best teams in Europe, they have a great history within the competition, and we cannot wait for the challenge of facing such an elite team. It’s a challenge we want to rise to.

Lyon bring with them a high level of international players, but that’s not to say we are going to bow down to them tonight. We want to show them why Manchester United belong in this competition.

Champions League nights under the floodlights are part of the bread

and butter of Manchester United. It’s in our DNA. We have already had three memorable home fixtures in the Champions League this season – against Brann, Valerenga and PSG – and there’s been an extra buzz about all those games, an extra energy.

You, our fans, are a key ingredient in creating that buzz and we want to feel it in the stadium once again tonight. In our previous Champions League games, both here in Leigh and at Old Trafford, we have heard and felt your energy. You have been amazing all season and we cannot wait to hear you once again.

Enjoy the game.

THE BIG

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PHALLON’S RETURN...

United goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce looks every bit the superhero between the sticks in this action photo, taken during Sunday’s win against West Ham here at the Progress With Unity Stadium.

The Reds’ 2024/25 Players’ Player of the Year had missed our three previous matches with a fracture to her eye socket but, wearing a mask for protection, our no.91 looked set for lift-off as she leapt highest to claim the ball during the first half of the WSL contest. While ‘PTJ’ would have no doubt loved a ninth clean sheet of

the season upon her return – an audacious overhead kick from Shekiera Martinez in the 53rd minute denying her that – a victory was what mattered most on this dreary Sunday, with kick-off delayed by 15 minutes on account of the visitors’ coach getting a flat tyre.

It wasn’t a vintage Reds display, but the 2-1 win keeps us inside the WSL’s top three, while we’re now just one point behind Chelsea in second after the champions’ surprise home

loss to Everton. UWCL qualification for 2026/27 via a top-three finish will remain high on the wish-list in the months ahead, but going far in Europe right now is equally important, and it’ll be fascinating to see how Marc Skinner utilises his squad across our busiest spell yet this season, with a Sunday-Wednesday-SundayWednesday-Sunday schedule, split between the WSL, UWCL and Subway League Cup, seeing us up to the Christmas break.

Terrace TAlk ofthe

ALL THE PRE-MATCH CHAT AHEAD OF TONIGHT’S GAME...

The Champions League is back in Leigh, with United hosting the most successful club in the competition’s history… What a mouthwatering fixture and, as head coach Marc Skinner states in his programme notes, this is the kind of challenge he and his team wants to face. On the back of what has already been an incredibly memorable and successful first crack at the main stage of the Champions League for us, this is a maiden meeting with French giants OL Lyonnes, whose eight silverware successes in this tournament remains a record tally. It’s a storied past but tonight is very much about the present, and a fixture that brings together two sides who entered the week inside the league-phase table’s top four.

Our Reds will have the chance to make it back-to-back wins too, after Sunday’s WSL victory over West Ham…

We’ve only just dried out from that soggy Sunday afternoon at the Progress With Unity Stadium, where it was great to see United make a winning return from the recent international break. The performance was by no means our best of the season so far, but Skinner’s side played some good football and, ultimately, got the job done. There were plenty of positives to take aside from the points too, not least having goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce back out there after three games on the sidelines with an injury, another commendable performance at left-back from Anna Sandberg and those two well-taken goals off the right boots of Elisabeth Terland and Dominique Janssen. Now, the focus shifts back to the UWCL...

We lost to Wolfsburg last time out in Europe but managed to secure progress beyond the league phase, due to results elsewhere. What’s the situation?

At minimum, United will advance to the knockout play-offs, once this stage of the competition concludes with the sixth and final matchday next week. That’s because the Reds have already amassed nine points, a tally that will be enough to finish no lower than 12th place in the 18-team table, the

Skinner and the coaching staff congratulate the Reds on getting the job done on Sunday in the WSL

cut-off line for elimination at this point. The sides that come between fifth and 12th will play a two-legged knockout play-off against another club in that bracket, for the right to join the top four finishers in the quarters. Ending this section of the campaign as part of the leading quartet is, of course, still what we’ll be pushing for going into tonight’s clash, and next Wednesday’s matchday-six trip to Juventus.

Lyon have already qualified for at least the next stage too, right?

Yes, with their 10 points mathematically enough to ensure their unbeaten campaign to date will be extended by at least one more round. The reigning champions of France have already beaten Arsenal, Austrian outfit St Polten and Wolfsburg this term, while a remarkable 3-3 draw away to Juventus is the only game in 13 that they haven’t won across all competitions this season. Even then, Jonatan Giraldez’s side came from three goals down in the last 30 minutes to salvage a point, underlining the quality and character we’re tasked with overcoming here.

lyon’s3-3drawaway toJuventusistheonly gamein13theyhaven’t wonthisseasonin allcompetitions

Hopefully Melvine Malard can help us with that! She used to play for them, of course… Mel initially joined United on loan from Lyon for the 2023/24 season, before making the move permanent for the following term, bringing an end to a proud, formative chapter in her career. Malard came through the ranks of the French side and made a silverware-ladened start to her senior years there, winning a haul of titles, including four Champions Leagues. She looks back on those triumphs and tells us what tonight’s visiting club means to her in a special interview starting on p16 but, make no mistake about it, the France international is firmly focused on doing all she can to help us overcome her old employers in this one. Here’s to that. Come on, United! ●

Our matchwinner and Player of the Match from three days’ ago in the WSL – and now for the UWCL...

Ingrid Engen was on target on Sunday as Lyon beat Dijon 3-0 in the French league

CONGRATS, CELIN

Big news! There will be a new member of the United family arriving in 2026...

In case you missed it last week, United winger Celin Bizet Donnum and her husband Aron have proudly announced they are expecting a baby.

Everybody at the club is thrilled by the news and we all look forward to adding another Red to the family.

The Norway international joined United in September 2024 and quickly became a fans’ favourite thanks to her all-action performances and infectious personality.

In response to the exciting announcement, head coach Marc Skinner said: “I am absolutely delighted by the news shared by Celin and Aron. We all wish her all the best as

she embarks on the greatest journey which is motherhood. Everyone here is super excited and we send them both all the health and happiness.”

Hannah Blundell is ready to support her friend and team-mate after giving birth to her daughter, Romi, in March of this year, before returning to competitive action last month.

AUCTION FOR JON

There is still time to support an auction of unique signed items donated by players from United’s senior teams, that will raise money for the family of our beloved former kitman Jon Humble. Jon (below), who was women’s kit lead during his six years at United before departing the club in August, tragically passed away at the age of 44 in October, after a short illness. Our women’s team have organised a collection of signed items to raise funds for Jon’s young family, and these have been put up for auction on the MatchWornShirt website, which you can visit by scanning the QR code above. Lots include signed shirts and boots collated by our women’s squad, as well as items donated by members of our men’s team and a host of former United players. Fans are encouraged to get behind the auction – which runs until 3pm on Saturday 13 December – in support of Jon’s wife, Claire, and their three young children.

DON’T MISS OUR QUARTER-FINAL!

“I’m so excited for Celin and this new chapter she’s about to embrace,” says Hannah. “I know she’ll be an incredible mum, and she’s got myself and the whole team with her throughout this journey.”

Congratulations again to Celin and Aron, we are so excited for you.

With the Reds’ Subway League Cup quarter-final now confirmed – at home to Tottenham on Sunday 21 December (1pm k/o) – what better was to see in Christmas week here in Leigh? Please note: WSL season tickets are not valid for this fixture – scan this code for ticket info.

The Norwegian has 37 appearances for United, scoring seven goals

penUltImAtE

puSh fOr plAces

THE STAKES ARE GETTING EVEN HIGHER AS

THE

18 UWCL TEAMS ENTER A CRUNCH WEEK IN THE COMPETITION’S LEAGUE PHASE...

United and Lyon are two of the five sides to have already confirmed at least a Champions League play-off spot, and the post-Christmas picture should become even clearer after the penultimate set of league-phase matches have taken place.

Two-time champions Wolfsburg flexed their muscles to qualify with a 5-2 victory over United in Germany last time out and would have been looking to move a step closer to securing a top-four spot –

and an automatic berth in the quarter-finals –when travelling to Real Madrid in the pick of last night’s four fixtures. The Spaniards had stumbled a little after winning their opening two games but still had designs on straight qualification themselves, and in Caroline Weir they boast one of the competition’s joint-leading scorers heading into matchweek five, alongside Wolfsburg’s Lineth Beerensteyn and Arsenal’s Alessia Russo.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, St Polten travelled to Juventus, who were still firmly in the play-off mix, holders Arsenal – who got their campaign back on track by beating Real in November – hosted FC Twente, while Paris Saint-Germain would have been out to finally get off the mark in this season’s competition as they entertained Belgian side OH

Wolfsburg – with the dangerous Beerensteyn in attack – were alongside the Reds on nine points heading into the latest run of fixtures

Leuven at the Parc des Princes. PSG followed up their reverse at Old Trafford with a home defeat to Bayern Munich, leaving them needing two wins from their final two games if they are to stand any chance of sneaking into February’s play-offs.

Barcelona – league-phase leaders heading into this week – are involved in one of the two early matches tonight. They face Benfica, with play-off hopefuls Valerenga and Paris FC taking part in the other 5.45pm kick-off.

The La Liga side will have to cope without three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati when their opponents from Lisbon come to town. The 27-year-old faces an extended spell on the sidelines, after suffering a fractured fibula while preparing for the UEFA Nations League final with Spain. A win for the Catalans, who will fancy their chances tonight even without Bonmati’s considerable talents, would likely see them only needing a point against Paris FC on matchday six to qualify for the quarter-finals – a feat they are bidding to achieve for a 11th straight season.

Bayern Munich and Chelsea, fifth and sixth respectively after matchweek four, could end the night in the top four, should results go their way.

BARCELONAwill havetocopewithout three-timeBallon d’OrwinnerAitana

Bonmatiwhenbenfica cometotowntonight

Bayern have won all but one of their domestic games this term but were hammered 7-1 by Barcelona in their European opener. Jose Barcala’s side have responded well in overcoming Juventus, Arsenal and PSG, and Atletico Madrid are the next opponents in their fiendishly difficult fixture list.

As for Chelsea, their quest for top European honours continues, after several near-misses in recent years. The Blues are as hard to beat as ever under Sonia Bompastor, although draws have cost them both at home and in Europe so far this term. They will be favourites to get back on track when winless Roma visit Stamford Bridge at 8pm tonight, and, while another draw will confirm continental action in the new year, three points are the real target if Chelsea want to finish in the top four, as Wolfsburg are bound to provide a difficult test on matchday six.

Bayern’s win against Arsenal put them back in contention for a top-four finish

Valerenga face a big encounter with Paris FC, with both teams battling for a play-off place

Maya THE CAPTAIN

OUR SKIPPER WILL BE GOING THROUGH HER USUAL PRE-MATCH ROUTINES, IN THE HOPE IT CAN HELP INSPIRE US TO OUR BIGGEST WIN YET IN THE UWCL...

To play in the Champions League is still an unreal feeling, and we all especially love being at home with the anthem playing before the game. Last time out at home in this competition was a fantastic night at Old Trafford, and playing under the lights is always special. It gives you a proper feel for the Champions League and what it’s all about.

It is everything we work towards – testing ourselves against the best opposition there is, and Lyon are definitely one of them. They have some amazing players and we are all

looking forward to the challenge they will bring.

You fans have been amazing for our Champions League games so far. It’s so brilliant to have you on this journey with us, whether home or away, and we can hear you loudly at every game – especially at Old Trafford. The games aren’t always the easiest to get to on a weeknight and we all really appreciate you coming to see us play.

One of the questions I sometimes get asked is what I do in the run-up to a match. My build-up to the game is pretty much the same for each fixture. I tend to eat the same things, depending on kick-off time. I always have pancakes for pre-match with some chocolate spread, and I always have a bite of a banana. I am quite superstitious, and aside from the food I eat, I always like to click my neck and do the same stretching routine.

So trust me, I’ll be doing that tonight!

Sunday saw Maya make her 100th consecutive start for the Reds

M M

histOry! put My name in i plAy tO

WHILE

TONIGHT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY

TO EMBRACE SOME OLD FRIENDS, MELVINE MALARD KNOWS

THE JOB IN HAND : TO BEAT THE TEAM THAT

“HELPED ME A LOT IN LIFE”. SHE TELLS US ALL ABOUT IT

OVER A POST-TRAINING CHAT...

Interview Mikey Partington

DATE OF BIRTH 28 June 2000

PLACE OF BIRTH

Saint-Denis, Reunion

POSITION Forward

YOUTH CAREER

Saint-Denis, Lyon

SENIOR CAREER

2017-24 Lyon

93 apps, 32 goals

2019-20 Fleury (loan) 11 apps, 3 goals

2023- Manchester United 73 games, 20 goals

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

2020- France: 35 caps, 10 goals

Mel, we’re speaking ahead of a reunion for you as we play your old side Lyon in the Champions League. Excited?

Yeah, I’m very excited to see the good friends I have over there. The football has changed a lot [since I left] and I’m looking forward to seeing what Lyon can do now.

What does Lyon – or OL Lyonnes as they are now officially known – mean to you? They’re a club that gave you so much in your career… Yeah, of course. I started in Lyon, now all my family live in Lyon. When I go back home, it’s Lyon. Lyon gave me a lot of opportunities, it opened my professional career, and I have a lot of memories – bad but also good. Now when I play Champions League, I know the level because I started with this club at a very, very high level and that’s helped me a lot in my life.

You mention the Champions League there – you incredibly won the competition four times with Lyon, playing in two finals (2020 and 2022). What do you remember of those finals?

Good memories. When you play a final, it’s not easy, but we – not ‘we’, but Lyon! – were able to go up the levels [to win] every time. Now, I’m on the other side and I know this club [United] and this team can do a lot of good things.

The last Champions League that you won, in the 2021/22 season, was in Italy, in Juventus’s stadium. We’ll go there later this month – are you looking forward to being back there?

Yeah, I’m very excited for this December. We play Lyon and after we go to Juventus. I have played Juventus many times with Lyon and yes, it was in this stadium that I started the final versus Barcelona and we won [3-1, as Mel started the game].

Like you say, before that Juventus trip our focus in Europe is this big game against Lyon. You said earlier that the football has changed since you left – what can we expect from their side? I still follow them, not every time, but I watch because I love football, and I watch a lot of friends. They have a lot of players that are so fast, a lot of players with individual quality. I think the team is not the same as before, but now they also have a lot of experience. But I know we’re so good at the moment here in Manchester, and I think we can be good against them in this game.

In the Champions League, we’ve already qualified for at least the knockout stage play-offs, but we can still finish in the top four and go straight to the quarter-finals. Is that a major aim for the team in these next two games, to secure a last-eight place without needing a play-off?

I think we just look to win every game we play. It’s the same with qualification, we’re not thinking about that, we just know when we play, we need to win that game and that’s it. Of course, if we win the last two, we are in a good position and that’s in our heads yes, of course.

You’ve scored in our last two European games now. The goal against Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford, how special was that moment for you?

It was very special for me. I was very excited before the game because it was the first game in the Women’s Champions League at Old Trafford. The fans were there for a show and when we win like that, it’s so good for the fans, and for us also. I play football to put my name in the history [books], and when I’m here with United, I think my name is going in the page every time I play! I understand that I’m the player who scored the first goal in the Women’s

Malard was just one of many strong performers in a red shirt as we beat PSG last month

Mel was on target again in Wolfsburg, but she knows we can play much better

Getting her hands on the trophy with Lyon in Turin, back in May 2022

FOLLOW ALONG Helping our young people tell their stories.

Season 2024/25

1,324 signed and charitable items distributed

517k+ total free-of-charge attendances at sessions and events 41% female participation

£2.3m raised by fans and fundraising

41,289

125 unique participants projects

mufoundation.org/ourimpact

Champions League at Old Trafford, and that’s what I want. Now, I’m hoping to put something in the page against Lyon [laughs]!

We hope so too, just like you did against Wolfsburg as well. We weren’t on the winning side there, but what do you think the team learned from that game, our first defeat in the league phase?

I think in this game we learned a lot, because Wolfsburg is a team who also play Champions League a lot. When I played with Lyon before, it felt like we were always against Wolfsburg in the final. Now, we understand what the Champions League is, what we need to do versus teams in the Champions League. The staff speak about that. We need to work hard in the box, attack the box, but also defend the box. We need to defend more and score more. The Champions League is that, it can give you a lot of opportunities to step forward and get better as a team.

In the competition this season, and in the WSL, we’ve seen you play up front as a central striker more frequently than we have previously. How much do you enjoy the responsibility of leading the line?

I’m enjoying it a lot. As a no.9, you can have a lot of opportunities to score and, when you score, you want more. You get a taste for it and that is good. Here with United you run a lot as a no.9 – I mean if you play right or left you need to run too, but I just think when I am on the pitch, I can give all I have for the team, for the club.

When you’re off the pitch, we know you bring good energy too. The dressing room this season feels in a really good place, with the camaraderie. Do you sense that too?

Yeah, we’ve been good in this first half of the season and it’s positive vibe [smiles]. We need to be that. I’m a positive person and I would like to give that to everyone who is next to me. ●

Bringing the good vibes at all times is just one of Mel’s many strengths...

Stands IN THE

↑ Holly is celebrating her 16th birthday. She’s pictured here with her grandad.

WHO’S HERE FOR TONIGHT’S BIG GAME?

↑ ‘Congratulations to Celin – you’ll be an amazing mum and we are all so happy for you, love Ellie.’

→ Hello to Ellie and Emma! Their faves are Phallon and Tooney.

Here’s another

, meeting

→ Ellie Anson says: ‘Come on you Reds!’

● Madeleine Joy hopes her daughter Evie had a great 7th birthday – Evie’s favourite player is Rachel Williams.

● A big shout-out to Ellington Junior Girls Under-13s team in the Northumberland League!

↑ Here’s Remi meeting Fred the Red for the first time here in Leigh.

↑ Mia Burnett loves Celin – here they are comparing shirts!

● Happy 30th birthday to Kathryn, who is a season ticket holder. Her favourite player is Hinata Miyazawa.

● Neil Board would like to wish his partner Jess a happy 40th birthday, which they are both celebrating at the game.

↓

Ruby

Fridolina – Ruby is a big fan!

← Belated happy 17th birthday to Ruby and Ella – love Michelle Kaya and Charlotte.

MANCHESTER UNITED

Rolfo FRIDOLINA

FUN, INTEGRATION AND KINDNESS...

These were the themes of a unique and inclusive training session

Manchester United Foundation participants from our Ability Counts project came together with young players from the club’s Girls Academy as part of an inclusive training session celebrating diversity.

Fun, integration and kindness were key themes of this unique session which, like many Foundation projects, encouraged disabled and non-disabled young people to unite through their love of the game.

Ten girls from Ability Counts, the Foundation’s PAN-disability football programme, were invited to attend training sessions with the Girls’ Academy U13 and U11 teams, marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3 December), enjoying games, skill challenges and mixed matches.

Ivy, one of the Girls Academy U13s, said: “Tonight we did some games with a group of players that came down from the Foundation. As we went through the session, everyone came out of their shell, and we spoke more.

I think it’s a really good thing.”

Her team-mate, Phoebe, added: “It was good to have some

new faces and invite them in.

I think they are brave to come into a new group and settled in well, it was really good.”

Ability Counts is the Foundation’s core disability football provision, running every Friday at the Reds’ former men’s first-team training ground, The Cliff, offering free football opportunities for disabled young people.

Matt Pilkington, the Foundation’s disability and inclusion coordinator, said: “It’s been a brilliant experience to bring the young people across to the Girls Academy session. The coaches and players have all been so welcoming and

accommodating, and it’s important for our participants to feel that warmth and sense of comfort so that they can express themselves in a new environment.”

Elizabeth, 12, from Ability Counts, said: “Tonight we played some matches and did dribbling and shooting. I haven’t played with these girls before but it was fun, and they were nice to us. I feel good.”

For more on the Foundation, visit mufoundation.org

Ivy, Elizabeth and Phoebe (right) all really enjoyed making some new friends among the group (above)

1. KAYLA RENDELL

The keeper joined the Reds from Southampton in January. In April 2024, she received her first call-up to the senior England team for the Lionesses’ Euro 2025 qualifiers.

2. ANNA SANDBERG

The 22-year-old full-back has been a regular this season, and she won the Player of the Match award on Sunday after assisting Elisabeth Terland’s opener.

6. HANNAH BLUNDELL

The first Red in the professional era to return to play after giving birth, the flying full-back could be the next to reach 100 United appearances – she’s now on 94.

SQUAD SN APSHOTs

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THOSE IN RED

3. GABBY GEORGE

Our Manchester-born full-back has showcased her versatility in recent weeks, stepping into central defence for the UWCL win against PSG at Old Trafford.

7. ELLA TOONE

Our record appearance maker and scorer has had so much success with the Reds since 2018. She also tops the overall WSL chart for assists this season (five).

4. MAYA LE TISSIER

Maya has started every Reds fixture dating back to December 2022. She recently enjoyed two starts – and two clean sheets – playing for England as a centre-back.

8. JESS PARK

United’s new no.8 has made a superb start to life with the Reds since her cross-Manchester move, with 14 impressive appearances yielding four goals.

The French forward has big links to tonight’s opponents, having been a youth-teamer there from 2014-17, before playing 93 times for the first team, scoring 32 goals.

Teri leads the way with goals this term, with Sunday’s strike making it 10 for 2025/26. Her first season of ’24/25 with the Reds saw the Norwegian net 12 – a squad high.

Also on the Reds’ roster for the 2025/26 season: 36. MARED

9. MELVINE MALARD 10. ELISABETH TERLAND 11. LEAH GALTON

After overcoming an injury at the start of the season, the winger has stepped off the bench in each of our last two UWCL games, making a good impact down the left.

ROLFO

The former Barça winger has been showing her attacking prowess in the Champions League in recent weeks, with three goals – a fine volley and two brilliant headers.

Now into her second team as a Red, last week saw the Norwegian and husband Aron announce they are expecting a baby.

Congratulations to both of you!

AWUJO

It was good to see the Canadian make a swift return to action after a clash of heads in November’s Manchester derby. The midfielder has played 23 times for the Reds.

Celin’s compatriot recently surpassed 300 senior club games in her career. The most recent of her six goals in 54 United games came at Brighton last month.

Simi’s fellow Canadian loves nothing more than racing down the right. She scored her first goal for the Reds in September’s 5-1 win at London City Lionesses.

JANSSEN 18. JULIA ZIGIOTTI OLME

The 27-year-old is another who’s taken no time to settle in, with her tireless midfield work making a real difference since signing in July. She has 50 caps for Sweden.

Did you know that Rachel played in the UWCL back in 2012? She featured twice for Birmingham City in the competition, scoring twice before their last-32 exit.

HINATA MIYAZAWA

Hini has been a regular this term, with her quick feet making the Reds tick. Check out our in-depth feature on the midfielder in next weekend’s Spurs programme.

The young Welsh international goalkeeper – capped seven times for her country – has started three games this season, to add to her one appearance last season.

The versatile midfielder has been a regular in defence this season, but she stepped up to fire home a brilliant free-kick v West Ham on Sunday – her third Reds goal.

MILLIE TURNER

The ever-dependable centre-back has been the ultimate team player since her 2018 debut. A recent knee injury is likely to keep her out until the end of the year.

JOYCE

Having sustained an eye injury in our recent home game against Aston Villa, the New Yorker missed three games, before returning as we faced West Ham on Sunday.

47. JESSICA ANDERSON (MF); 48. SIENNA WAREING (MF); 52. SCARLETT HILL (DF)

UWCL

Op tE n

YOU MIGHT ALREADY BE AWARE THAT TONIGHT’S OPPONENTS ARE THE MOST SUCCESSFUL TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COMPETITION -- BUT WHAT ABOUT THIS OTHER CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TRIVIA?

Words Charlie Ghagan

First winners Frankfurt, 2001

/02

The knockout phase of the inaugural UEFA Women’s Cup (as the UWCL was then known) had a very different look to the latter stages of the modern-day competition, with teams such as Ryazan, Trondheims-Orn and Odense lining up in the quarter-finals (alongside English champions Arsenal); HJK Helsinki and Toulouse in the semis; and Umea and Frankfurt competing in the final. The German champions hosted the showpiece, with over 12,000 fans in attendance at Frankfurt’s Waldstadion, giving Monika Staab’s side a real advantage against their opponents, whose entire squad was made up of Swedes. It would be a German-American and a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year who’d grab the headlines, though, as defender Steffi Jones and Birgit Prinz (pictured with the trophy), scored the goals that would win it for Frankfurt – the first of four competition triumphs for the Frauen-Bundesliga side.

All-time top scorer

Ada Hegerberg, 69

The 2018 Ballon d’Or Féminin winner was finding the net in Europe long before she joined the French giants in the summer of 2014. First with Norwegian side Stabaek (alongside big sis Andrine), then with Germans Turbine Potsdam, the teenage striker always looked destined to reach the biggest stage. Eleven years on – and with close to a century of Norway caps to her name – Les Lyonnaises’ no.14 (left) has a mind-boggling haul of winner’s medals and individual trophies to her name, including 10 Premiere Ligue crowns and six UWCL titles. While being the competition’s leading all-time scorer won’t win the 30-year-old another medal for her vast collection, she’s no doubt proud of such an accomplishment: 87 UWCL games, 69 goals – including three (so far) in this season’s league phase. Next on the list? Retired German legend Anja Mittag (51).

Winner with most teams Conny Pohlers, 3

While others have more UWCL winner’s medals –Wendie Renard, Eugenie Le Sommer, Amel Majri and Sarah Bouhaddi have eight apiece with Lyon – Pohlers is the only player who can lay claim to winning it with three clubs: Turbine Potsdam (2005), Frankfurt (2008), and Wolfsburg (2013, 2014). Having also won the World Cup (2003) and Euros (2005) with Germany, no wonder the ex-forward, now 47, had a satisfied smile on her face at her 2014 testimonial, saying: “Everything I’ve achieved is more than I dreamt of – I did everything right.” You certainly did, Conny.

Biggest attendance

91,648, Barcelona v Wolfsburg, 2021/22 semi-final first leg

Having already smashed the record by playing in front of 91,553 for their quarter-final win against Real Madrid weeks earlier, incredibly the visit of Wolfsburg even outdid El Clasico, on a day when Fridolina Rolfo was among the Barça team that stormed to a 5-1 first-leg lead in the semis. Aitana Bonmati was the star of the show, with team-mate Patricia Guijarro speaking for them all when she said of the crowd: “What happened today – and a month ago – has left us speechless. As the days or years go by, we will understand better what’s happened. Right now we have not completely grasped the magnitude of this experience.”

The home fans were in tiers (three of them, to be precise) when Barça crushed Wolfsburg 5-1 in this semi-final, first leg

Pohlers ahead of the 2013 final at Stamford Bridge (possibly showing someone the size of her medal cabinet at home)

A crowd of 91,648 were at the Nou Camp – a stadium that’s now even bigger...

Live every week on Sky Sports, BBC, and YouTube.

Biggest victory

Apollon Limassol 21-0 Ada Velipoje, 2012/13 qualifying round

Double-figure goal hauls are far rarer these days as the professionalism of the women’s game expands across the continent (we can’t imagine a repeat of Turbine Potsdam’s 19-2 aggregate win against Valur in the 2005/06 quarter-finals, for example) but the occasional shellacking still takes place in the earlier rounds. Will we ever see a single-game scoreline to beat this qualifying-round tie from 2012, when Cyprus’s top side hit an eye-watering 21 against Albanians Ada? We suspect not. Footage and photos are hard to come by, but it has its place in UWCL folklore.

Most titles Lyon, 8

As strange as it might seem, tonight’s opponents had zero involvement in the first six years of this competition, but as soon as their domestic dominance began in 2006/07, European success would follow – and on a grand scale. Eighteen league titles in 19 years, up to and including 2024/25, have been accompanied by eight UWCL wins, alongside three terms in which they’ve finished runners-up. With a remarkable UWCL record of P152 W122 D19 L14, and a goal difference of +437, it’s no wonder OL Lyonnes (to use their official current name) are often cited as being the greatest women’s team ever.

Romanian striker Laura Rus top-scored in the rout, with five

Laura Georges and Sonia Bompastor with the cup after Lyon’s 2011 win against Turbine Potsdam

Nation with most titles Germany, 9

Lyon might have eight UWCL successes, but with no other French winners (PSG have gone closest, finishing runners-up twice), the Germans still lead the way. Their nine titles have been split between Frankfurt (4), Turbine Potsdam (2), Wolfsburg (2) and Duisburg (1). The mighty Bayern Munich? Just a pair of semi-finals. Impressive league-phase wins against Juventus, Arsenal and PSG might give them hope of going further this time around, having got a 1-7 thumping to Barcelona on matchday one firmly out of their system. After Germany and France in the all-time wins by nation, it’s Spain in third place with three (all Barça), followed by England and Sweden, each with two (doubles for both Arsenal and Umea). And that’s your lot – 24 trophy lifts, split across just five nations, with Denmark and Russia the only other countries to provide a finalist.

Fastest goal

12 seconds -- Marta, Umea v Frankfurt, 2008

Of all the goals scored in this competition over the past 24 years, we love the fact that the fastest one came a) in a final, and b) by the player many consider to be the greatest female footballer of all time. Playing for Swedish champions Umea in part one of the two-legged final, a long ball down the right by full-back Anna Paulson was helped on by an opponent’s head, bouncing into the path of Brazil legend Marta, who calmly rounded Frankfurt keeper Silke Rottenberg before slotting home, with just 12 seconds on the clock. Not that Marta and co will be looking back on this moment with too fond memories: Frankfurt would be level within four minutes, thanks to Conny Pohlers (yep, her again) and after a 1-1 draw in Sweden the Frauen-Bundesliga side would take the trophy following a 3-2 second-leg triumph... as Pohlers popped up with two more goals.

Marta was quick off the mark in this 2008 final, but Frankfurt would take the spoils

Wolfsburg’s Martina Muller lifts the trophy in 2013 – the seventh of nine times the cup has gone to a German team

Longest gap between titles

2007-2025, Arsenal

The Gunners’ win against Barcelona six months ago was a mighty achievement, with Stina Blackstenius scoring the final’s only goal to beat the firm favourites from Catalonia. Close to 40,000 fans were at the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon for the showpiece, with all the pre-match pomp and pyrotechnics you’d expect from a modern-day final, not to mention the ticker tape explosion as Kim Little and Leah Williamson lifted the trophy. Things were a little bit different the previous time Arsenal go their hands on the trophy in 2007: having won the final’s first leg 1-0 away to Umea, 3,467 fans were in attendance in the humble surroundings of Meadow Park, Borehamwood to see Vic Akers’ side complete the job with a tense 0-0 draw. “I remember Borehamwood was rocking,” Williamson would later recall – the current England skipper providing a very neat link between the two finals, as she was a mascot that day 18 years ago.

All-time most appearances

Wendie Renard, 129

Incredibly, the centre-back is into her 19th season with tonight’s opponents, and while this year has seen her lose her place in the France squad, at the age of 35 she remains as important as ever to Les Lyonnaises. A natural leader who commands respect from the back, Renard also takes a deadeye penalty – as she’s shown in both of her side’s most recent fixtures in this competition, to put the seal on the win against Wolfsburg, before completing the comeback to claim a draw at Juventus. The victory against Wolfsburg also saw Lyon’s Martinique-born no.3 become the first player to win 100 UWCL games. ●

Much like our own centre-back and captain, Renard loves a penalty kick –as seen against Wolfsburg last month

A proud day for the Londoners – if rather low-key compared to what would follow 18 years later (below), with Williamson (inset) there on both occasions

OL LYONNES

None come bigger in the UEFA Women’s Champions League than the eight-time winners we now know as OL Lyonnes. From being integrated into the Olympique Lyonnais club in 2004 and making quick headway in Europe, they claimed a historic first UWCL title in 2011 by beating Turbine Potsdam at Craven Cottage, before retaining it a year later with victory over Frankfurt in Munich. An astonishing five in a row followed between 2016 and 2020, a period of dominance during which Lyon were viewed as the pinnacle of women’s football and ex-Red Alex Greenwood was among a few Lionesses to make the move to France’s third largest city. In 2024, American businesswoman Michele Kang acquired a majority stake, ushering in the ‘OL Lyonnes’ era – a name that references the parent club but also seeks to forge its own separate path as an empowered female-driven entity.

RECENT FORM

Domestically, Lyon have flexed their muscle again this season, sitting top of France’s Premiere Ligue after winning their opening nine games, including a statement 6-1 demolition of main rivals Paris Saint-Germain, in which United States midfielder Korbin Shrader (left) scored a hat-trick. They’ve been strong in the UWCL too, sitting second in the standings after matchday four. A 2-1 comeback win away at Arsenal showed a clinical side to capitalise on some slack passing from the hosts, before convincing 3-0 and 3-1 wins at home, over St Polten and Wolfsburg respectively. Lyon aren’t untouchable, however, as Juventus showed last time out. Les Lyonnaises trailed 3-0 at half-time in Italy, before clawing their way back as Wendie Renard’s late penalty rescued a 3-3 draw.

Lining up on matchday four ahead of a thrilling 3-3 draw at Stadio La Marmora-Pozzo

WHO TO LOOK OUT FOR...

Ada Hegerberg made history in 2018 when she became the first winner of the Ballon d’Or Féminin off the back of a remarkable 53-goal season. The Norwegian, 30, has had more than her fair share of injury problems since but is into her 12th season with Lyon and is looking to add to the three UWCL goals she’s scored in 2025/26. Elsewhere in the ranks, Arsenal found out on matchday one what goalscoring midfielder Melchie Dumornay, 22, is capable of. The Haiti international (below), who impressed against England at the 2023 World Cup, netted both goals against the Gunners after some excellent pressing. As Haiti boss Nicolas Delepine says of his star player: “When she’s happy and fulfilled on the pitch, something always happens. She’s one of those players who makes her team-mates play better – that’s important.”

Formed: 1970 (as FC Lyon)

Nickname: Les Lyonnaises, Les Fenottes

Major honours: French league champions 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25; UEFA Women’s Champions League 2010/11, 2011/12, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2021/22; 10 x Coupe de France Feminine

LAST UWCL LINE-UP

v JUVENTUS

Last season: Premiere Ligue winners, UWCL semi-finals, Coupe de France Feminine Round of 32; top scorer (all comps): Melchie Dumornay (22)

the leaders

Lyon coach Jonatan Giraldez only celebrated his 34th birthday less than two weeks ago but he’s already won the Women’s Champions League twice as a head coach – both with Barcelona, in 2022/23 and 2023/24. After many years working in Catalonia, the Spanish boss cut short a brief spell with the NWSL’s Washington Spirit – another Michele Kang-owned team – to return to Europe this season. On the pitch, Wendie Renard has been there every step of the way since joining Lyon in 2006, succeeding Sonia Bompastor as captain more than a decade ago. Although long considered one of the world’s best centre-backs, she’s a prolific scorer, typically finding the net with her head at set-pieces or from the penalty spot, and is closing in on 200 career goals for club and country, to go with her 18 French league titles and eight Champions League triumphs.

Giraldez has plenty of previous success in this competition

FACTS & FUNNIES FROM FRED THE RED!

LANGUAGE LESSON!

MATCH THE TRANSLATION OF ‘THE REDS’ TO THE CORRECT NATIONALITY AND CLUB…

Lyonnes

Wolfsburg – Die Roten; Take me

George

Manchester; Riviere – Ontario; Williams – Leicester;

Tullis-Joyce – New York; Skinner

Birmingham; Guess the Red: 1. Ella Toone; 2. Julia Zigiotti Olme; 3. Gabby George

TAKE ME HOME!

PICK THE RIGHT HOME TOWN FOR THESE FIVE REDS

GABBY GEORGE LIVERPOOL OR MANCHESTER?

RACHEL WILLIAMS LEICESTER OR LONDON?

JAYDE RIVIERE ONTARIO OR VANCOUVER?

PHALLON TULLIS-JOYCE LAS VEGAS OR NEW YORK?

MARC SKINNER BIRMINGHAM OR BRISTOL?

WHO ARE THESE THREE UNITED STARS FROM OUR LAST HOME CHAMPIONS LEAGUE OUTING, AGAINST PSG?

STATS AT THE BACK

WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE TABLE, 2025/26

UNITED APPEARANCES & GOALS, 2025/26

UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TABLE, 2025/26

DOM MAKES IT A DOZEN

(Positions 1-4 go straight into quarter-finals; positions 5-12 compete in four play-offs to decide remaining quarter-finalists; positions 13-18 eliminated)

Sunday’s WSL win against West Ham saw Dominique Janssen become the 12th United player to find the net so far this season, on the day when our first 2025/26 scorer, Elisabeth Terland, became the first Red this term to reach double figures for goals. Last season saw us have 16 different scorers, so we’ve plenty of time to beat that tally. Who’ll be scorer no.13?

Barça’s draw at Chelsea saw them drop UWCL points for the first time this season

Miyazawa Zigiotti

ADDED-TIME QUIZ

CAN YOU GET FULL MARKS IN OUR REDS-THEMED TEST?

For which of the teams United have faced in the Champions League so far this season has Fridolina Rolfo previously played?

What nationality were the club that won the first Women’s Champions League final (then known as the UEFA Women’s Cup), in 2002: German or Swedish?

In which year did Melvine Malard join United on loan from Lyon?

Who was the first French player to make a competitive appearance for the Reds: Estelle Cascarino or Aissatou Tounkara?

Prior to Rolfo in the Champions League this season, who was the last Red to score in three straight games in the same cup competition, doing so in last season’s FA Cup?

Who has made more WSL appearances for United: Leah Galton or Millie Turner?

Which current Red is the closest to being the next to reach double figures for United career goals, having scored seven so far?

Who is the only player to ever wear the no.1 shirt in a league game for United?

Which ex-United midfielder scored for her team on matchday one of this season’s Champions League? Hint: we faced her on matchday two…

Which ex-Red made more appearances for Lyon: Alex Greenwood or Nikita Parris?

Answers:

Wolfsburg; 2. German (Frankfurt); 3. 2023; 4. Aissatou Tounkara; 5. Ella Toone; 6.Leah Galton (109-107);

7. Celin Bizet Donnum; 8. Siobhan Chamberlain; 9. Vilde Boe Risa; 10. Nikita Parris (53-17)

25/26 THIRD JERSEY

MANCHESTER UNITED WOMEN

Head coach Marc Skinner

Kayla Rendell (GK)

Anna Sandberg

Gabby George

Maya Le Tissier

Hannah Blundell

Ella Toone

Jess Park

Melvine Malard

Elisabeth Terland

Leah Galton

Fridolina Rolfo

Simi Awujo

Jayde Riviere

Celin Bizet Donnum

Lisa Naalsund

Dominique Janssen

Julia Zigiotti Olme

Hinata Miyazawa

Millie Turner

Rachel Williams

Mared Griffiths

Safia Middleton-Patel (GK)

Tamira Livingston

Jessica Anderson

Sienna Wareing

Scarlett Hill

Phallon Tullis-Joyce (GK)

OL LYONNES

Head coach Jonatan Giraldez

Christiane Endler (GK)

Wendie Renard

Selma Bacha

Elma Junttila Nelhage

Melchie Dumornay

Vicki Becho

Korbin Shrader

Marie-Antoinette Katoto

Lindsey Heaps

Kadidiatou Diani

Ashley Lawrence

Damaris Egurrola

Ada Hegerberg

Ingrid Engen

Feerine Belhadj (GK)

Maissa Fathallah

Alice Sombath

Lily Yohannes

Teagan Micah (GK)

Tabitha Chawinga

Sofie Svava

Ines Benyahia

Jule Brand

Sofia Bekhaled

Liana Joseph

Tarciane

Kolbjornsen

Maiwenn Olivier