Key events
Elsewhere tonight in the Champions League, things are going very well for Arsenal at Bayern Munich, with the Gunners 2-0 up at half-time. Live updates for the second half are available here, with Taha Hashim.
Preamble
When Mary Earps left Manchester United for PSG last summer, the goalkeeper didn’t mince her words. “[United] is about to undergo a period of transition, and unfortunately I don’t feel it aligns with the timing of where I’m at in my career, therefore I think now is the right time to make a change and embark on a new challenge.”
Sadly, her remarks felt justified. The week before Earps’ move was announced, it was revealed by the Guardian that United women’s team would be moving into portable buildings at the club’s Carrington training complex this season to allow the men’s squad to use the women’s building while the men’s indoor facilities were being revamped. United had finished the 2023-24 season in fifth, almost mid-table, 15 points adrift of Champions League qualification and although they had won the FA Cup at Wembley in May, club owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe decided not to turn up, choosing instead to attend the men’s side’s Premier League defeat at Arsenal. This did not feel like a club where world-class talent was given the proper chance to shine. Remember United were the final ‘big’ Premier League side to launch a Women’s Super League team, only doing so in 2018.
Tonight is the first female European match to be played at Old Trafford, so it does at least feel like steps have been made to treat the women’s team with the respect they deserve. Despite faltering at the weekend against Aston Villa, Manchester United have had an excellent season, just four points off WSL leaders Manchester City and are one of only three teams (Lyon and Barcelona) that have won all of their matches in the Champions League. This should be a magnificent occasion.
PSG are still regarded as the second best team in France but departures of key players has meant they are no longer regarded as one of the overall favourites to win the Champions League. Stars Korbin Albert and Marie-Antoinette Katoto, the club’s all-time top goal-scorer, departed for rivals Lyon while midfielder Grace Geyoro was sold for a world-record fee (£1.43m) to London City Lionesses. PSG have got off to a rocky start in the Champions League, losing both their opening games. Their trip to Old Trafford is absolutely crucial to their hopes of qualification. It should be a cracker.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT.
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