Women's Champions League knockout phase play-offs first leg: Atlético de Madrid vs Manchester United facts
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
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Manchester United travel to Spain to face Atlético de Madrid for the second time this season in the first leg of their UEFA Women's Champions League knockout phase play-off tie.
Atleti finished 11th in the league phase table after collecting seven points (W2 D1 L3) with United sixth on 12 points having won four of their six matches (L2).
Last match
The teams' only previous meeting came on Matchday 2 this season, Fridolina Rolfö (24) scoring the only goal on 16 October to give United victory. Both sides had a player sent off, United's Dominique Janssen dismissed in the 37th minute and Atleti's Alexia Férnandez 16 minutes from time.
After going unbeaten across their first four contests against English opposition – all against Manchester City (W2 D2) – Atleti are now winless in their last three (D1 L2).
The Spanish side's home record against English visitors is W1 D1 L1; they also drew 1-1 with Chelsea in the 2020/21 round of 16 second leg in Monza, Italy.
United's Matchday 2 win at Atleti is their only previous fixture against a Spanish club.
This season was Atleti's first appearance in the group stage/league phase.
The Spanish side are aiming to reach the Women's Champions League quarter‑finals for the second time. They previously achieved the feat under the previous format in 2019/20, where they lost to fellow Spanish side Barcelona 0-1 in a one-off tie played in Bilbao.
Synne Jensen stuck in extra time – Luany having levelled with a penalty deep into added time – to give Atlético a 2-1 victory over Häcken in the second leg of this season's third qualifying round tie in Madrid. The Spanish side won 3-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 first-leg draw, Luany also on target in Gothenburg.
Atleti parted company with coach Víctor Martín on 22 January, with José Herrera announced as his replacement two days later.
United are looking to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in only their second Women's Champions League campaign. Their previous entry resulted in a round 2 exit against Paris Saint-Germain in 2023/24 (1-1 h, 1-3 a).
They began this season with victories against PSV Eindhoven (4-0) and Hammarby (1-0) in the second qualifying round, before beating Brann in the third (0-1 a, 3-0 h). With two hat-tricks and seven goals in total, Elisabeth Terland was the top scorer overall during qualifying.
Key stats
Atleti have won four of their last five two‑legged European ties.
The Spanish side have one victory in their last five European games (D1 L3), losing 4-0 at OL Lyonnes in the most recent.
The second-leg success against Häcken is Atleti's sole home win in this season's Champions League (D1 L2); they drew the most recent, 2-2 versus Bayern München on Matchday 5.
Manchester United have won seven of their ten matches in this season's competition (L3), beating Vålerenga (1-0 h), Atleti (1-0 a), Paris Saint-Germain (2-1 h) and, on Matchday 6, Juventus (1-0 a) in this season's league phase.
The English side have kept six clean sheets in their ten European games this season.
United have won one and lost one of their previous two two-legged European ties.