Manchester United Women reached the UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history on February 19, 2026, after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their knockout play-off tie at Leigh Sports Village, sealing a dominant 5-0 aggregate triumph.
The Red Devils, competing in the competition's knockout stages for the first time, had already built a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg in Spain. In the return fixture, they controlled proceedings from the start, with Julia Zigiotti Olme opening the scoring in the 28th minute. Jess Park then doubled the advantage on 41 minutes with a stunning long-range strike following a short-corner routine, effectively ending any hopes of a comeback for the visitors. Atletico missed a golden opportunity to pull one back earlier in the half but failed to capitalize, allowing United to cruise through the second period.
Under manager Marc Skinner, Manchester United displayed composure and dominance throughout the tie, showcasing their growing pedigree in European competition. Key performers included Park, whose goal was widely praised as a moment of brilliance, and the defensive solidity that kept Atletico at bay. The victory marks a historic milestone for the club, which joined the Women's Super League in 2018-19 and has rapidly ascended to challenge Europe's elite.
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Manchester United now advance to face Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals, with first legs scheduled for March 24-25, 2026, and returns on April 1-2. The draw places three English sides in the last eight, including Arsenal (holders) against Chelsea and other matchups involving Real Madrid vs Barcelona and Wolfsburg vs OL Lyonnes. This achievement highlights the rising strength of the Women's Super League on the continental stage.
The result caps an impressive run for United in their debut deep run in the Champions League, following strong performances in the league phase and the emphatic aggregate win over Atletico. Fans and pundits celebrated the milestone as a sign of the club's sustained investment in the women's team paying dividends. No immediate comments from Atletico Madrid were reported post-match, though the Spanish side's campaign ends with the realization of United's superiority in both legs.
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