The draw for the new-look UEFA Women's Champions League league phase has thrown up some mouthwatering fixtures for England's representatives. Arsenal, Chelsea and debutants Manchester United have all learned their opponents, with heavyweight clashes, tricky away days and reunions on the horizon. Mary Earps' return to the Red Devils with Paris Saint-Germain will also be a standout storyline.
Elisabeth Terland was at her clinical best on Thursday night to fire Manchester United into the Women's Champions League proper for the first time, her hat-trick haunting former side Brann and giving the Red Devils a 3-0 win which rendered last week's 1-0 loss in Bergen meaningless.
A fresh look at women's football in Football Manager 26 has been unveiled as Sports Interactive revealed the biggest female database in gaming. After years of promises, setbacks, and cancelled editions, the studio has confirmed that from November 4, players can step into the dugout of legendary women’s teams across the globe. This isn’t a token gesture. This is the largest-ever women’s football database in gaming, spanning continents, leagues, and thousands of players.
Marc Skinner insists Manchester United have the "boots they need" for their Champions League qualifying second leg clash with Brann. The Red Devils lost 1-0 in Norway, having mislaid the players' footwear. Staff were dispatched to a local sports shop to buy boots and shinpads ahead of the fixture but Skinner insists that his side are "ready" for the return leg.
It’s well-known at this point that despite winning back-to-back European Championship titles and reaching a World Cup final in between, England’s Lionesses have a problem at left-back. There’s a real lack of options for Sarina Wiegman in the position and shoehorning players into it hasn’t helped much either - leaving many wondering just what Gabby George has to do to get her chance.
Manchester United's hopes of reaching the Women's Champions League league phase suffered a blow after a narrow defeat in Norway, but manager Marc Skinner has fired back at Brann's celebrations. The Red Devils dominated large spells of the game but were undone late on, leaving them with everything to do in next week's decisive second leg at Leigh Sports Village.
UEFA has officially confirmed the venues for the 2027 Champions League finals, with Madrid and Warsaw set to stage the men's and women's showpiece events. Atletico's Estadio Metropolitano will host the men's final, returning to the stadium where Liverpool lifted the trophy in 2019, while Poland's Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw has been selected for the women's final.
After advancing from the second qualifying round, Manchester United will play home and away against Norway's SK Brann for a place in the competition proper.
Manchester United have completed the signing of Fridolina Rolfo following the two-time Champions League winner's departure from Barcelona earlier this summer.