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It was hardly thrilling and it was not the entertaining opening to life in the Women’s Champions League that Manchester United might have hoped for but, more important than that, the English side got up and running with three points as they beat Vålerenga in a low-key affair in Leigh.
Maya Le Tissier’s penalty kick was enough to beat the Norwegian side on Marc Skinner’s team’s debut in the league phase on a night that will enter the club’s history books but will not live long in the memory for drama nor excitement.
Le Tissier spoke on Tuesday about getting goosebumps at the mere thought of walking out to the competition’s anthem, describing the idea of playing Champions League football as something she had dreamt of since she was a little girl, so it felt fitting that the captain should be the player to score the club’s first goal in the main draw of this competition. After Arna Eiríksdóttir’s handball, Le Tissier calmly sent Tove Enblom the wrong way and then ran to slide on her knees in front of the home supporters in celebration.
It was a rare moment that got the crowd off their feet in an otherwise fairly flat first half, with the turnout perhaps not quite befitting the occasion of the club’s debut at this stage of the Champions League, albeit this is far from the glamour match in the league phase.
Perhaps many home fans have decided to prioritise November’s visit by Paris Saint-Germain to Old Trafford or OL Lyonnes – the eight-time European champions who won at Arsenal on Tuesday – over the side sitting second in the Norwegian top division.
Nevertheless, this was a game United knew they had to win, if they wanted to show they have serious hopes of going deep into the knockout rounds, given the tougher tests that lie ahead for them.
Compared with the high-octane intensity of Friday’s draw with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League, this game was played at a notably slower pace and the home side’s players found they were afforded far greater time on the ball.
They almost opened the scoring early on when Elisabeth Terland’s glancing header dropped narrowly wide of the base of the post, while Hinata Miyazawa’s strike was held after being hit with power but straight down the middle.
Melvine Malard twice went close before Le Tissier’s goal. The captain’s display could be timely before Sarina Wiegman names her England squad on Tuesday; Le Tissier, who has barely put a foot wrong this season, looks certain to feature prominently, as does Jess Park, who once again looked likely and purposeful in possession as she continued her strong form since arriving from Manchester City.
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Park should have scored in the first minute of the second half, after a flowing team move involving Ella Toone and Terland, but Park’s one-on-one effort was blocked by Enblom. What followed was a lengthy spell of United possession inside the Vålerenga half but with little to show for it, as the visitors tightened up their defensive lines and restricted the room they were affording United’s attacking players.
WCL roundup: Weir on fire for Real Madrid
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The Scotland forward Caroline Weir struck twice as Real Madrid launched their Champions League campaign with a 6-2 statement win over Roma. Weir was on target in each half at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano but it was her first strike in the 23rd minute that set pulses racing as she dribbled into the box before beating Rachele Baldi with a powerful shot. Real went in at half-time 3-2 up but pulled cleared with Weir, their captain, adding her second (pictured) before Alba Redondo completed her double, with Eva Navarro sealing a dominant victory in which they had 14 shots on target. Evelyne Viens and Emilie Haavi scored for Roma.
Liga F teams occupy the top three spots in the table after Atlético Madrid overwhelmed the Austrian club St Polten 6-0 away from home. The Brazilian midfielder Luany was the star of the evening with her assist and 23rd-minute strike helping her side build a comfortable lead. Atlético were 4-0 up by the interval with Gio Garbelini, Andrea Medina and Vilde Bøe Risa also finding their way past Carina Schluter. They had to wait until the closing moments for their next goals, however, with Fiamma Benítez hitting the target twice, the first from the penalty spot. Benítez’s double meant Atlético finished the first round of European matches above Real in second place, behind Barcelona, who beat Bayern Munich 7-1 on Tuesday.
Wolfsburg also made a strong start by crushing Paris Saint-Germain 4-0 at AOK Stadion. An early Jackie Groenen own goal put the French visitors on the back foot and they then leaked goals to Ella Peddemors, Alexandra Popp and Janina Minge. PA Media
Photograph: Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images Europe
So much so, at one stage in the middle of the second half, you could have been forgiven for wondering if the Norwegians were playing for a 1-0 defeat, such was their defensive setup, but that would also have done a disservice to the quality of Miyazawa in United’s midfield, as she helped the hosts control the game.
Vålerenga almost – and should have – punished Manchester United for not finding a decisive second goal, when Elise Thorsnes dragged a low shot wide with the visitors’ first shot of the second half, but the home side saw out the victory.
