Mary Earps endures disappointing return to Old Trafford as Man Utd beat PSG | OneFootball

Fridolina Rolfo and Melvine Malard secured a 2-1 win for Manchester United over PSG, keeping their 100% Champions League record intact on Mary Earps’ return to Old Trafford.

Earps was met with boos on her return to English soil as Manchester United secured a hard-fought victory over Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford, maintaining their perfect start in the Women’s Champions League.

Goals from Malard and Rolfo ensured United moved to nine points from nine, leaving last year’s semi-finalists PSG still searching for a first win in the league phase.

The opening goal came midway through the first half when Malard shrugged off defender Griedge Mbock Bathy and curled a precise strike past Earps, who was making her first appearance back at her former club.

United had chances to extend their lead before the interval, but Spain international Olga Carmona produced a moment of brilliance on the stroke of half-time. 

Collecting the ball 25 yards out, Carmona unleashed a stunning long range effort into the top corner to make it 1-1, leaving 21-year-old goalkeeper Safia Middleton-Patel helpless. Middleton-Patel was deputising for the injured number one, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and produced several important saves to keep United in the game.

PSG, who have yet to claim a point in the Champions League this season, were far from passive. They hit the woodwork twice and offered constant threat on the counter, demonstrating why they were last year’s semi-finalists.

Yet United, blending experience and youthful energy, regained the lead early in the second half through Rolfo. The former Barcelona star, a two-time Champions League winner, powered home Anna Sandberg’s cross with a perfectly timed header, giving the home side a lead they would not relinquish.

Rolfo reflected on her decisive contribution after the game: “After scoring the winning goal in the game, it felt amazing. I’m so happy for this win. It was a tough game today. It was a physical opponent, but we won in the end and I’m super happy. I’m happy I can help the team with scoring a goal as well.”

When asked about the importance of starting the week with a win in such a competitive league, she added: “Very important. Those games, it’s so many tough games at the moment in the Champions League and you need all the points you can get and today we got three again. So we’re putting ourselves in a good position, which is very important. Brilliant.”

Off the field, much of the focus had been on Earps. The former England goalkeeper left United in June 2024 after six years at the club to join PSG, seeking a new challenge. In the build-up to the game, her controversial autobiography dominated headlines, and her reception from the Old Trafford crowd reflected that. Despite the scrutiny, Earps made several crucial saves but could not prevent United’s goals.

Midfielder Julia Zigiotti commented on the emotional context of Earps’ return: “I don’t know what to say. Like, I wasn’t here when she was here, but she’s an important player for the club in the past, so. Yeah. I think in the women’s game, it’s gotten more and more like happening more and more. So I’m like, I didn’t think about it during the game, but yeah.”