Key events
During the break, here’s a good read for you:
Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Vålerenga
It’s Maya Le Tissier’s penalty which separates the sides at the break with Vålerenga’s impressive defence keeping United’s other chances at bay.
45 min: There will be two minutes added with United still pushing for another before the break.
43 min: United win a free kick in a great position, though Vålerenga expected the decision to go their way. The delivery isn’t the greatest and the visitors clear easily.
41 min: United are being forced by Vålerenga’s good defence to play a lot in their own half but they remain patient and puncture through. Malard gets it into the box but the visitors recover.
39 min: The visitors are growing in this game but they are just not able to land a proper chance to test Tullis-Joyce.
37 min: Vålerenga have their longest spell in possession and they win a free kick in their own half from Toone. They will have to build from deep but United recover the ball.
35 min: Chants of “red army” can be heard with that penalty livening up the crowd.
33 min: United have been even more buoyed by the penalty with another chance coming in quick succession but Enblom saves.
VAR is in operation this evening and there was a check with the penalty decision standing. It feels apt that Maya Le Tissier scored their first goal in the competition proper after being such a consistent performer for the club.
PENALTY! Manchester United 1-0 Vålerenga (Le Tissier, 30)
The captain steps up and scores United’s first Champions League goal.
29 min: Well the first penalty decision didn’t go United’s way but the second does because of a handball in the box. It’s a bit harsh but the decision has been made.
Tom Garry
It’s pretty quiet here at the moment. Of the three home games that Manchester United have in this League Phase, you can perhaps understand why some of the supporters might have prioritised the upcoming visits of Paris Saint-Germain and the eight-times Champions League winners OL Lyonnes over this game. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is a little flatter than expected tonight. I think there are 11 Valerenga fans – I can count them by hand – who have made the journey and are all gathered together in the corner behind the goal that Phallon Tullis-Joyce is defending in this first half, and fair play to them for making the journey from Oslo. Incidentally, that is the city that will host the final in May.
27 min: Joe Pearson has got in touch and said:
I usually have better snack chat, but I’m a bit under the weather today, so I’ve just been sipping on some seasoned chicken broth. Boring, I know. On another topic, is the Kayla Rendell on United’s bench a relative, distant or otherwise?
I’m sorry to hear you are ill Joe, rest up! It’s definitely that time of the year but the snack still sounds yummy. And to your other point, no Kayla isn’t a relative but I do get that question often. Back on pitch Malard has had another chance but Enblom is wise to it.
26 min: I called them a blue wall before but there are some holes. Malard wins it in the box but Enblom blocks a shot and then another chance comes in but a defender hits it off of the line. Some good reactionary defence after a horror show from the visitors.
24 min: After that great bit of defending, Vålerenga show what they can do in attack. They win it high up from Zigiotti Olme but the resulting shot is saved by Tullis-Joyce.
23 min: Malard goes down in the box and the French international wants a penalty but it is not given. She is crowded off of the ball but on the replay it was a perfectly timed challenge.
21 min: Toone lays it off to Riviere but her effort is popped over the bar, the final touch just not coming together for Marc Skinner’s side.
19 min: Vålerenga’s defence is very calm, no panic stations even when Riviere carves her way through. A blue wall thus far, the question will be if they can remain that way throughout the 90.
17 min: United keep knocking on the door but the visitors are able to keep them at bay. But on the balance, United are the better side in this match so far.
15 min: Vålerenga create some lovely flowing football, especially through Saevik but United’s defence are quick to it to thwart the danger. The hosts then create a chance with Miyazawa hitting a stunner from outside the box but Enblom saves well.
13 min: To answer my own question, they can’t find one yet. Their latest attack, while patient as previously mentioned, does not materialise into a clear cut chance.
11 min: United are being so patient with their build-up play as they edge up pitch, can they find an opener?
9 min: United win another corner and Sandberg is the taker once again. In the ball swings but the whistle is blown for a foul in the box so Vålerenga can clear.
8 min: Possession flips back and forth with United’s early dominance starting to fade as Vålerenga settle into this one.
6 min: Vålerenga have their first attack of the game but it is easily snuffed out by the hosts. The visitors need to be patient in defence but when they have those attacking chances, they need to make them count.
4 min: United are looking comfortable in possession, this time Park winning a corner. The set piece is taken by Sandberg which is delivered well but Janssen just misses her header.
2 min: This is the first time these two sides have played one another and United are the first to attack. It’s popped into the box and Terland almost gets on the end of it but it’s out for a goal kick.
Kick-off: Manchester United 0-0 Vålerenga
Here we go.
The players are out at Leigh Sports Village, can United get their campaign off to the perfect start or will Vålerenga spring a surprise? All to come.
It’s been a little while since I have written a live blog so I thought it would be a good time to revive the discussion I usually have with readers around what snacks you have on the go while keeping up with the action. For me tonight is white chocolate, what are you digging into? Email me and let me know.
In Manchester this evening it’s a cool 11 degrees and is cloudy but not too windy in case anyone was wondering what the conditions are like for this one. The referee for the match will also be Ewa Augustyn.
The two earlier kick-offs have now concluded with Chelsea drawing 1-1 with FC Twente and Real Madrid thumping Roma 6-2.
For all the details on who every team will play during this league phase have a read of this:
Do you have questions about how the Women’s Champions League will work this season? Well the Guardian has you covered. Here’s all you need to know:
The defending Champions League champions, Arsenal, got their title defence underway yesterday. Have a read of this to see how they got on:
Chelsea are in action as you read and you can keep up to date with all the action from their game against FC Twente below:
Team news
The team news is in for this fixture. United are without Leah Galton and Celine Bizet who are injured.
Man Utd: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Janssen, Le Tissier, Sandberg; Toone, Miyazawa, Zigiotti Olme; Park; Terland, Malard.
Subs: Rendell, George, Blundell, Rolfo, Awujo, Naalsund, Williams.
Vålerenga: Enblom; Horte, Kovacs, Eiriksdottir; Tennebo, Vickius, Inauen, Heidarsdottir; Hegg, Saevik, Tvedten.
Subs: Grinde-Hansen, Erichsen, Pettersen, Lindwall, Thorsnes, Sesay, Aronsson, Enger, S. Hansen, Bergman-Lundin, Brekken
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Women’s Champions League match between Manchester United and Vålerenga.
This is the first time United have played at this stage of the competition and they have reached the stage after coming through qualifying. The English club are in good form but it will be interesting to see how they handle this stage of the competition.
Vålerenga, on the other hand, are well-versed in the group stage after competing last season. The club did not qualify for the knockout stage after being drawn in a difficult group alongside Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Juventus. This year they will aim to progress but once again find themselves in a tricky position with United, Wolfsburg, Roma, St Polten, Bayern and Paris FC their opponents.
Action in this match will kick-off at 8pm BST but the team news will drop shortly so keep an eye out for updates.
