Manchester United will host PSG Women in their Women’s Champions League debut. The Red Devils will get to play the first leg at home on Tuesday before heading to the French capital the following week.
Preview (Manchester United Women vs. PSG Women)
Man United is going to play their first-ever match in the Women’s Champions League. They finished second to Chelsea in the 2022–23 Women’s Super League season. They hope to join Chelsea in the group stage. The qualifying draw has given them a difficult test against a PSG club with lots of Champions League experience. After two exhilarating wins over Aston Villa and Arsenal, the Red Devils will enter the game on Tuesday. They came from behind to upset Aston Villa 2-1 to start their season. The Red Devils were on track to repeat the feat against the Gunners on Friday at home.
Following Stina Blackstenius’s opening goal, Leah Galton and Melvine Malard added goals for Manchester United. A long-range effort by Cloe Lacasse in the last seconds prevented Marc Skinner’s team from winning. Man United’s home unbeaten league streak now extends at nine games (W7, D2). They will be eager to carry this trend over to the European stage. PSG has just played four games in all competitions so far this season. In order to bounce back after their French Super Cup loss to Lyon, the Parisians trounced Bordeaux 3-0 in their inaugural league game, which also transpired to be the final game of Gerard Precheur’s tenure.
Following a devastating 1-0 loss to top title contenders Lyon to begin his tenure, Jocelyn Precheur’s team defeated Saint-Etienne 1-0 at the weekend thanks to Tabitha Chawinga’s first goal for the team. After making it to the Women’s Champions League quarterfinal stage in each of the previous five seasons, the French juggernauts will now turn their attention to European competition. They will have high hopes for their campaign.
Team News
Emma Watson is out indefinitely after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Man United defender Aoife Mannion is currently sidelined. After making her Red Devils debut off the bench and scoring a goal, Malard might make her first start. Geyse, a Brazilian international who last year helped Barcelona win the Champions League, will contribute valuable European expertise.
Chawinga, a recent arrival from Wuhan Jianghan University on loan, is expected to feature in the forward line after starting PSG’s previous two games. Marie-Antoinette Katoto has made three substitute appearances since recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. On Tuesday, the 24-year-old is anticipated to sit out for a longer period of time as she strives to increase her match fitness. In the first leg on Tuesday, Man United will be eager to take advantage of home-field advantage, but we predict that PSG, who have a solid European record, will frustrate them and hold them to a draw.
Manchester United Women 1 – 1 PSG Women
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