Marc Skinner, the Manchester United manager, defended his decision to make five changes after his team were outplayed in the Champions League.
Melchie Dumornay’s two sumptuous late goals produced a margin of victory that was no less than OL Lyonnes deserved when United failed to lay a glove on their opponents.
The defeat greatly reduces United’s chances of securing a top‑four spot, which guarantees a quarter-final place. Lyonnes are now all but guaranteed of their place in that quartet and they demonstrated a gulf in quality between themselves and the Women’s Super League side.
Skinner’s team selection raised eyebrows, not least because of the surprise inclusion of Rachel Williams as the central striker. The 37‑year‑old veteran’s involvement came while creative midfielders such as Ella Toone and Jess Park were left on the substitutes bench. Skinner said: “You can lose a game against Lyonnes on set-pieces, on physicality, so we had to have balance. We looked at four games in 10 days, so we’ve got to be able to rotate.
“I won’t have anyone go ‘Oh, well, you don’t rotate’ and then you do rotate and it’s not right, so, you’ve got to. There’s got to be a plan ahead of all of the games coming. But we needed to match them physically and then adapt it and change it in the second half. Please don’t forget, we’re playing probably a team that is expected to win the Champions League.”
Ewa Pajor (pictured) was on target for Barcelona in a 3-1 home win over Benfica that all but guarantees their place in the Women's Champions League quarter-finals.
Pajor opened the scoring just before the half four – her 15th in 16 appearances in the tournament's group or league phase. According to Uefa, only Chelsea striker Kerr has more at this stage of the Champions League, with 16 goals.
Chandra Davidson equalized for Benfica just after half-time, but two goals in the space of four minutes effectively sealed the win for Barcelona. Christy Ucheibe turned Alexia Putellas' cross into her own net in the 54th minute, and Laia Aleixandri forced the ball home to make it 3-1.
There was still time for Barça to win a penalty, but Benfica keeper Lena Pauels saved well to deny Putellas. Victory means Barcelona top the league phase with one game to go, three points clear of Real Madrid in fifth and Juventus in sixth, with a vastly superior goal difference.
Twelve teams advance from the league phase, with the top four going straight to the quarter-finals and the other eight sides entering playoffs. Paris FC, who host Barça in their final game, boosted their hopes of a playoff place as a late Lorena Azzaro penalty at Vålerenga, who had Karina Saevik was sent off.
Bayern Munich sit fourth after battling to a 2-2 draw at Atlético Madrid. The hosts started well and took the lead through Vilde Bøe Risa's penalty, with Giulia Gwinn missing a spot kick for the visitors.
Pernille Harder levelled just after the hour and then volleyed Bayern in front with 12 minutes to go, but Fiamma's stunning late strike crashed in off the bar to earn Atlético a point and all but assure them of a playoff place. AP/Guardian sport
Resting players against such high‑calibre opposition felt brave and it appeared to backfire quickly. The visitors grabbed the initiative and their goal was not one the keeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, nor any of the United backline, will be eager to watch again.
Ingrid Engen was afforded plenty of time and space to angle in a cross that was headed goalwards by Tabitha Chawinga. It was directed close to the centre of the goal but Tullis-Joyce, who has been having an excellent season, could only help the ball into the net.
United struggled to get hold of the ball, let alone venture towards the Lyonnes goal, but despite that they did create a golden chance to equalise with their first touch inside the penalty area as half-time approached. Melvine Malard’s header, though, flew over the crossbar.
That aside, it was an opening 45 minutes with Lyonnes enjoying full control and Dumornay and Damaris Egurrola showing their class in midfield.
United’s struggles were significant enough for Skinner to make a triple change at half-time, introducing Park, Toone and Julia Zigiotti Olme for Williams, Simi Awujo and Lisa Naalsund. Their arrivals did prompt an injection of fresh intensity into the midfield, but Lyonnes were still creating dangerous chances, with Ada Hegerberg lashing narrowly wide with her left foot around the hour.
The record eight-time European champions – who won away at Arsenal, the defending champions, in October and whose only dropped points came in an away draw at Juventus – have looked genuine contenders to go all the way this season and their composure on the ball only added to that impression.
Dumornay was already the star of the show before she produced two late finishes of the highest quality, first collecting a Jule Brand cut-back and finding the top corner expertly in the 81st minute, before another equally clinical finish as the clock ticked past the 90th minute. At the other end, the hosts had failed to produce a single effort on target.
Skinner described Lyonnes as “probably one of the best teams that will ever walk the planet”, as he played down the significance of the defeat.
