Manchester United Face Uphill Battle After Bayern Munich First Leg
Manchester United suffered a 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League quarter-final clash at Old Trafford on Wednesday, March 26, 2026. Despite twice leveling the score, a late goal from Momoko Tanikawa has left United with a challenging task in the second leg in Germany.
Early Setback and United’s Response
Bayern Munich drew first blood with a goal from Pernille Harder in the 2nd minute, capitalizing on a long ball from Arianna Caruso and outpacing Maya Le Tissier. United responded through a penalty converted by Le Tissier in the 24th minute, awarded after Lea Schüller’s cutback was handled by Glodis Viggosdottir.
Second Half Drama and Bayern’s Winner
The second half saw Hanna Lundkvist bring United level again in the 76th minute with a header. However, Bayern quickly regained the lead through Harder in the 71st minute, and Tanikawa secured the win for the German side with an 84th-minute strike.
Skinner Highlights Squad Depth Concerns
Manager Marc Skinner acknowledged the difficulty of the situation but remains optimistic about United’s chances in the second leg. He emphasized the impact of Bayern’s tactical shift to a more direct approach and highlighted the importance of addressing the defensive errors that led to the goals. Skinner likewise pointed to the limited squad depth as a significant challenge, particularly with Hinata Miyazawa recently returning from international duty with Japan after winning the Asian Cup. Tanikawa, a teammate of Miyazawa, was able to create an impact off the bench for Bayern, whereas United lacked similar rotation options.
Upcoming Fixtures Add to the Challenge
United’s busy schedule continues with a Women’s Super League match against league leaders Manchester City at Old Trafford on Saturday, followed by the crucial second leg against Bayern Munich in Germany next Wednesday (17:45 BST). Skinner stated that the team has played the most football in Europe this year and is facing a demanding period, but he expressed confidence in his players’ commitment to the challenge.
Skinner on Defensive Errors
Addressing the goals conceded, Skinner stated, “There are two mistakes in there from us. If you acquire pressure on the ball, you can’t play the long ball. They tried it a few times and played the ball out of play. It worked for them tonight but if I stop those two chances, they don’t score.”
Key Takeaways
- Bayern Munich defeated Manchester United 3-2 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
- Pernille Harder scored twice for Bayern, while Momoko Tanikawa netted the winning goal.
- Maya Le Tissier and Hanna Lundkvist scored for Manchester United.
- Marc Skinner highlighted squad depth as a key factor and expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete in the second leg.
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