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Manchester United Women put in a professional performance to keep their European dream alive against Atlético Madrid.
First half
3-0 up from the first leg, the game started in a very open fashion, with the away side needing to score early on.
Rosa Otermín was the first to have a go from outside the penalty area, but Phallon Tullis-Joyce dived down low to keep out the early strike. Lauren Leal was next to threaten the United box, and her close-range header really should have found the target, but she could only skew the ball over the crossbar.
It was the Red Devils who got themselves ahead on the night and put the match to bed when Julia Zigiotti scored once again.
The Norwegian Lisa Naalsund went on a mazy run down the left and found Zigiotti, who shot from distance and the ball crept under the Atlético keeper.
After 41 minutes, a piece of magic completely wrapped up the tie.
Jess Park has been a sensational, transformative signing for United, and she continued to show why last night.
A short corner routine resulted in Hinata Miyazawa setting up Park for a fierce, dipping long-distance effort that perhaps two keepers could not have stopped.
😮💨 The pitch is her Park 😮💨#UWCL pic.twitter.com/JfJDaxsD0u
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) February 19, 2026
United went into the half-time break 2-0 up on the night and 5-0 up on aggregate.
Second half
The second half continued much like the first half ended, with United appearing the most dangerous team. Hanna Lundkvist played a ball over the top for Park, who came down the wing and squared to Ellen Wangerheim, but her effort was well parried by Lola Gallardo.
United played some lovely football in the second half and combined wonderfully as Park almost scored her second.
Wangerheim was played in and a wonderful reverse ball found Park, who shot first time with her left foot, but her effort struck the base of the post.
The game somewhat lulled to a conclusion, but Atlético’s Xenia Perez was sent off in the 85th minute to make a bad night even worse for the Spanish visitors.
United saw out the game comfortably enough and will now face Bayern Munich in the quarter-final of the competition.
Jess Park stats vs Atletico Madrid
| Goals | 1 |
|---|---|
| Assists | 0 |
| Key passes | 1 |
| Crosses (accurate) | 1 (0) |
| Accurate passes | 25/28 (89%) |
| Passes in opposition half (acc.) | 19/20 (95%) |
| Passes in own half (acc.) | 6/8 (75%) |
| Long balls (accurate) | 1/2 (50%) |
| Total shots | 2 |
| Shots on target | 1 |
| Hit woodwork | 1 |
| Shots blocked | 0 |
| Touches | 43 |
| Unsuccessful touches | 2 |
| Dribbles (successful) | 6 (2) |
| Was fouled | 1 |
| Possession lost | 12 |
| Total carrying distance | 249.9 m |
| Carries | 20 |
| Progressive carries | 4 |
| Total progression | 110.7 m |
| Progressive carrying distance | 123.2 m |
| Longest progressive carry | 35.5 m |
| Def. contributions | 0 |
| Tackles (won) | 0 (0) |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Clearances | 0 |
| Blocked shots | 0 |
| Recoveries | 1 |
| Ground duels (won) | 9 (3) |
| Dribbled past | 1 |
Source: Sofascore
Featured image Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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