Manchester United sweep aside Atlético to tee up Bayern Munich clash in WCL | OneFootball

Jess Park provided a timely demonstration of her qualities as her superb, long-range goal capped off a confident individual performance that helped Manchester United progress to the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals with a resounding win over Atlético Madrid.

The German champions, Bayern Munich, will be Marc Skinner’s team’s quarter-final opponents, between 23 March and 1 April, with United reaching the last eight for the first time. That significant landmark for the club was fittingly accompanied by a special goal from Park, whose curling strike completed a 5-0 aggregate victory and boosted her chances of starting for England in March.

“She genuinely is an incredible footballer,” said Skinner of Park. “Jess just excites me, she excites the team, she excites the fans. As soon as it leaves her foot, you know it’s in. As soon as you know she’s in a space, you know she’s going to hit the target.

“In the second half when [she] hit the post, it was beautiful football and that makes me feel good. The win makes me feel good, but when my team play with a flow and a vibe, and I can feel them interchange, that’s beautiful.”

Skinner, who confirmed his side’s quarter-final home leg will be played at Old Trafford, added: “I think she’s incredible. I’m happy to be the one that’s helping her be unleashed this season.”

Holding a commanding 3-0 lead after the first leg, United similarly took control during the first half of this game, when Julia Zigiotti Olme swept home the opening goal with a decisively-struck, low finish after a move that saw United pass their way through their opponents’ backline far too easily.

Prior to that, the away side had actually made a bright start and they should have taken the lead, with Synne Jensen twice being denied by good saves from Phallon Tullis-Joyce, either side of a chance for Lea Schüller at the other end, where the United centre-forward chested a long ball down superbly to run through on goal but was denied by a strong save. Melvine Malard also had a swerving strike parried by Lola Gallardo before Zigiotti Olme eventually beat her.

There was nothing the 32-year-old veteran shot-stopper could do about Park’s sublime strike to make it 2-0 shortly before half-time, though. Receiving a short corner, Park opened her body up and bent a sumptuous effort into the far, top-right corner that drew gasps from the crowd at Leigh Sports Village.

Park has come into form at the perfect time, before the Lionesses meet up for their first camp of 2026, travelling to Turkey next week to prepare to face Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier on 3 March, before they host Iceland on 7 March.

The United winger’s chances of featuring prominently have been aided by the absence of the Arsenal forward Beth Mead, and this may therefore be her chance to shine.

She continued showing dazzling touches with her quick feet after half-time, looking increasingly relaxed with the ball at her feet, and she raced clear down the right flank and played a perfect square pass to the substitute Ellen Wangerheim, in space inside the area, but her shot was straight at the goalkeeper.

Park would later strike the inside of the post, after skipping inside to shoot from a favourable angle, before being substituted to a standing ovation as she came off for a rest on 78 minutes.

The visitors went down to 10 players late on when Xènia Pérez received a second yellow card for fouling Wangerheim, but the tie was won long beforehand and Skinner, while acknowledging that Bayern Munich would be the favourites for their quarter-finals, says nobody will want to face Manchester United in this competition.

Header image: [Photograph: Darren Staples/AFP/Getty Images]