Manchester United continue making Champions League history

Manchester United have endured a demanding period across competitions, with fixture congestion testing depth, fitness and mentality.

Performances in recent weeks have swung between encouraging progress and frustrating setbacks, keeping pressure high on players and staff alike.

European nights, in particular, have become a measuring stick for how far United’s project has come.

With expectations rising, every result now carries added weight.

One midweek victory has quietly delivered a major boost heading into the next phase of the season.

That breakthrough came as Manchester United Women secured a seeded place in the Women’s Champions League knockout phase play-offs with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Juventus in Turin.

The decisive moment arrived early in the first half when Jess Park curled a superb strike into the far corner at the Allianz Arena, giving Marc Skinner’s side control of the contest.

The victory capped an impressive league-phase campaign, with United collecting four wins from six matches in their debut season at this stage of the competition.

The result was all the more impressive given the context, coming just days after a heavy European defeat and a dramatic domestic comeback that stretched an already thin squad.

Determined to avoid a repeat, Manchester United Women started on the front foot, forcing early set-pieces and asserting themselves physically and tactically.

Jess Park and Melvine Malard both went close to extending the lead before the break, only to be denied by deflections and smart goalkeeping.

Juventus responded after half-time, attempting to exploit United’s lack of depth as fatigue crept in, but the hosts’ best opening fell to Amalie Vangsgaard and was ultimately squandered.

United also felt hard done by late on when Elisabeth Terland was brought down by Juventus captain Cecilia Salvai, with penalty appeals waved away.

Despite the pressure, United showed maturity and resilience to see the game out.

Both sides narrowly missed automatic qualification for the quarter-finals, reserved for the top four of the 18-team league phase, but progress to the play-offs was secured.

The draw takes place on Thursday, with United set to face either OH Leuven or Atletico Madrid, and the two-legged ties scheduled for 11–12 February and 18–19 February.

United can continue to make Champions League history if they overcome one of those two teams.