Manchester United into UWCL Quarters vs. Bayern Munich

Leigh Sports Village, Thursday night: the roar that greeted the final whistle carried the sound of history in the making. Manchester United’s women sealed a 2-0 second-leg victory over Atlético Madrid, completing a commanding 5-0 aggregate triumph and propelling the club into its first-ever UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final.

Needing only to protect the 3-0 advantage earned in Madrid, United never looked content to merely defend. Inside 25 minutes Julia Zigiotti Olme settled any nerves, steering a low finish inside the far post after Lisa Naalsund’s measured cut-back from the right. The strike effectively ended the tie, yet the Reds kept pressing. On the hour mark Jess Park collected possession 22 metres out, glanced up, and arrowed an unstoppable drive into the top-right corner for the night’s second and the tie’s decisive fifth.

Atlético’s frustration surfaced late; defender Xenia Perez saw red in the 85th minute for a reckless lunge, capping a chastening evening for the Spanish visitors.

Attention now turns to the last-eight draw and a daunting duel with Bayern Munich, the Frauen-Bundesliga pacesetters. The Bavarians opened their European campaign with a sobering 7-1 loss to Barcelona but responded by eliminating Juventus, Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Valerenga to reach the quarters. The first leg against United is scheduled for the week of 23 March, with the return to follow a week later.

For Marc Skinner’s side, the run of firsts keeps coming: first group-stage win, first knockout tie, first quarter-final. Against Bayern, another milestone awaits.

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