Video: United Women suffer crushing loss and lesson in CL rout at the hands of Wolfsburg

Manchester United Women suffered their first loss of the Champions League campaign away to Wolfsburg. First half The Red Devils started the match in perfect fashion, taking the lead after just 14 minutes. Melvine Malard broke away down the left hand side and fizzed in a tempting cross for Fridolina Rolfo who headed in from close distance. Sadly, United could only hold on to the lead for three minutes as the Germans responded almost instantly. A poor kick by Safia Maddleton-Patel saw the ball fall to Ella Peddemors at the edge of the area and she curled in a sumptuous equaliser. On 32 minutes, United almost got themselves in front again but Malard’s header was well-saved. Wolfsburg showed their European pedigree though with a double whammy before half-time. Ella Peddemors grabbed her second of the match when her long distance effort crept into the bottom right of the goal. The United keeper will certainly feel she could have got down faster on reflection. In a careless few minutes, Julia Olme gave the ball away in the middle of the park and Lineth Beerensteyn smashed another worldie into the top corner from range. In a pulsating first half, Malard scored United’s second on the stroke of half-time. The Frenchwoman capitalised on a poor header back and acrobatically tucked away a complex finish to give Marc Skinner’s side hope. Second half Ella Toone had a quiet night and her shot from outside the box on 52 minutes flew high and wide of the goal. On 62 minutes, Beerensteyn almost added a fourth but her header was well saved by the inexperienced Welsh keeper. Beerensteyn could not be kept quiet and she added the host’s fourth when breaking through the United defence and slotting the ball past Middleton-Patel’s outstretched foot. United pushed for a consolation but had to wait until the 94th minute for a genuine opportunity when Gabby George fired an effort wide. The Red Devils’ misery was complete when Jayde Riviere’s poorly judged back pass was cut out by Vivien Endemann, who rounded the helpless Middleton-Patel and slotted the ball into an empty net for the Germans’ fifth. The result will have been a tough learning curve at this level and it is now a third defeat in four matches for Marc Skinner’s side. The international break has arrived at the right time as United are in danger of throwing away a positive start to the season. They will face West Ham United at home on Sunday 7th December and will be in action again in the Champions League versus Lyon on Wednesday 10th. Melvine Malard stats vs Wolfsburg MetricValue Goals1 Assists1 Total shots2 Shots on target2 Shots blocked0 Offsides1 Touches35 Unsuccessful touches1 Dribbles (successful)2 (1) Was fouled2 Possession lost11 Big chances created1 Key passes1 Crosses (accurate)1 (1) Accurate passes14/23 (61%) Passes in opposition half (acc.)6/15 (40%) Passes in own half (acc.)8/8 (100%) Tackles (won)1 (1) Interceptions0 Clearances0 Blocked shots1 Recoveries1 Ground duels (won)7 (4) Aerial duels (won)5 (3) Fouls2 Dribbled past0 Source: Sofascore Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images – The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.