Manchester United (home)
- Manchester United Women are 1.49 favorites for Thursday’s second leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025-2026 playoff against Atlético Madrid Women, who are 5.8 to bounce back from a 3-0 aggregate deficit with a win in Leigh.
- Marc Skinner has created a strong all-round team that are second in the Women’s Super League and on a multi-match winning run across all competitions heading into this fixture.
- After comfortable wins over London City Lionesses, Leicester and Liverpool in the WSL, the Red Devils should come into this with a lot of confidence.
- This is the first European knockout campaign in United’s history, so there will be an extra bit of significance if they can make it into the UWCL quarter-finals.
Atlético Madrid (away)
- Atleti are fifth in Liga F, according to recent reports, and have had a turbulent January that included a managerial change.
- José Herrera took charge after that change, putting an emphasis on defensive structure and solidity, but is still looking for the team to find their balance and create a regular threat.
Head-to-Head
- Atleti will look to make United chase it with vertical, high-intensity play in a similar style to the one that led to their 3 - 0 loss in Madrid in the first leg.
- In theory, this should be a fascinating game as Skinner’s team are cool, controlled and space-seeking, using a disciplined back four and a flexible quartet of attacking players to control the tempo and press at specific moments in games.
- Atleti will aim to play intense, direct soccer, looking to transition quickly from defence to attack, using set-piece situations to cause a problem and then packing out their defensive line to invite United onto them, hoping to nick a counter-attacking goal.
Manchester United
- Elisabeth Terland is the current favourite for the final third, as she proved with her goal in Madrid,
- Melvine Malard also chipped in with a goal and an assist, getting into good positions and running at the defenders.
- Julia Zigiotti Olme provides some extra experience and technical ability at the top end of the field, having scored United’s third goal in Madrid, while her height gives them an extra aerial presence for set plays.
Atlético Madrid
Amaiur Sarriegi and Júlia Bartel are two good outlets for Atleti in attack, but they need to find the finish to break down a United defense that has kept clean sheets in Europe behind a superb Phallon Tullis-Joyce , who kept a clean sheet in Madrid .
Betting Insights
- A draw is priced at 4.35, but Atlético face a huge challenge to overcome United’s lead in a game that is likely to be dominated by the Women’s Super League club in terms of chances and shots on goal.
- Over 2.5 goals looks a good bet at 1.7 with Atlético likely to open up as they seek a comeback.
Prediction
- The forecast is for cool and cloudy conditions in Leigh, which might suit United’s set-piece routines and disciplined defensive structure a bit more than Atlético’s direct approach.
- With their momentum and superiority in form across all fronts, the hosts should be able to get the win they need to progress to the quarter-finals.
