WCL 23/24 qualifier | United v PSG - Tue 11 Oct at 8pm

[jojojo]

United Women play their first ever competitive European match on Tuesday night - and it's a qualifier for the group stage of the Champions League.

The structure of the Women's Champions League is still evolving. Only 16 teams are in the group stage and the draw for the qualifying round are about European competition historic performance seedings rather than on last year's domestic seasons - we knew we were odds on to get a top team.

To win a trophy in France, PSG have to beat Lyon (who've won 6 of the last 8 women's champions leagues) which is why they have one D1 title and two Coupe de France in the past ten years. In the same period in the WCL they have been losing finalists twice (to Lyon and Frankfurt) and have made the SFs for times and the QFs twice. Fair to say they've got a European pedigree and bags of experience.

They've also got one of our old players - Jackie Groenen. Chances are the fans at LSV will cheer her name when the team gets announced. Most of the women's team fans will say that she left because she wasn't a key part of the manager's plans and we didn't even try to keep her.

Match will be live on MUTV.

Some tickets are still available at:
https://tickets.manutd.com/en-GB/ca...UANi1160Vfv4zDK652zmdm52xzt746KBoCU8kQAvD_BwE

 

[Don_Johan14]

Bad luck in the draw. The most difficult team.
The last few years they have been among the top 6 teams in Europe.

They have Lieke Martens, a player who has performed at a high level at Barcelona.

I imagine it will be an even tie, experience can be a factor to take into account.

 

[Ubik]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Irene back after a quad issue, Mannion the only one still out. Apparently PSG were able to rotate their entire side in their last league game

 

[Venkman24]

The preview article says the game will be shown live on manutd.com and the app as well as MUTV. Hopefully that means it's free on the website.

https://www.manutd.com/en/news/deta...-women-v-psg-champions-league-10-october-2023

 

[Rood]

Paris St-Germain midfielder Jackie Groenen has questioned the format of the Women's Champions League, which has led to early exits for some of Europe's biggest clubs...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67048973



We are likely to go out too unfortunately - PSG have so much more experience at this level

She has a point but these teams went out because they lost over 2 legs so can't really complain

 

[jojojo]

Paris St-Germain midfielder Jackie Groenen has questioned the format of the Women's Champions League, which has led to early exits for some of Europe's biggest clubs...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67048973



We are likely to go out too unfortunately - PSG have so much more experience at this level

She has a point but these teams went out because they lost over 2 legs so can't really complain

I don't think the 16 team group stage is unreasonable at this point in the development of the game and using knockout ties to qualify for that is really the only way to manage that.

It's the seeding that needs looking at. Because the seeding is based on the club's European performances (not the League's) and pretty crude in how it works, it's become very hard for new clubs or improving clubs to qualify, which is the opposite of what's needed to develop the tournament. It's not just that the structure doesn't favour the clubs with the best attendances and TV ratings, it doesn't even favour the best teams.

If we assume the current structure (8 teams qualify for the group stage automatically + 8 come out of the qualifiers) is left intact then a straight (2 leg) knockout round with no seeding for this final round of qualifiers would seem about right. Yes, we might still see big teams go out but it least it would seem a fair kind of lottery in the Cup tradition.

 

[Lightbringer]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Lightbringer]

Jackie coming back

 

[jojojo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tickets are now only on the LSV site and there aren't many left.
https://lsv.venuetoolbox.com/LeighSportsVillage/asp/bookTickets.asp

@Demon Barber has one available though if you're quick enough

 

[jojojo]

LSV looking busy already. Lots of people wandering around outside. Lots of people with scarves hunting for car parks

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

I never watch womens football, but since international break and CL I might watch. Do anyone show the game online for free?

Edit I see MUTV shows too bad I do not have that anymore.

 

[jojojo]

New tournament and a new starting lineup. Naalsund and Rivière start.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Ubik]

New tournament and a new starting lineup. Naalsund and Rivière start.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

What is Skinner cooking?

May even be 3-5-2 vibes?

 

[rooneyberbatov]

Rivière? Interesting.
I’m nervous and excited at the same time, let’s go!

 

[jojojo]

What is Skinner cooking?

May even be 3-5-2 vibes?

Could be, certainly we could start like that. Media are suggesting 4-5-1 with Rivière in midfield, but not sure if that's based on anything.

 

[jojojo]

Incidentally - just a reminder, if we get through this round we don't just go to the CL group stage, we also get a free pass to the QF of the WSL Cup. No pressure. Just saying

 

[Lightbringer]

Still summer as the kids dressed in Man Utd kits including shorts?

 

[jojojo]

Still summer as the kids dressed in Man Utd kits including shorts?

Kids have no idea. Hopefully someone has jackets and trousers for them. It's not a horrible night but it's windy and cooling down fast.

 

[sion-utd]

The match is on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/live/zN-KKH7G7w8?si=s7GCAI9KQTo2GQb0

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Kids have no idea. Hopefully someone has jackets and trousers for them. It's not a horrible night but it's windy and cooling down fast.

There are coats over the back of their seats.

 

[Lightbringer]

 

[Unlikely lad]

Worried we’ll lose this and Skinner will play the same formation and 11 ad nauseum till the end of the season

 

[Annihilate Now!]

De Gea in attendance apparently

 

[Darkhorsez]

Come on Utd!

 

[RPT_Reddevil]

DDG in the house

 

[Lightbringer]

De Gea in attendance apparently

Wish all mens players were there :-)

 

[Ubik]

KAMOOOON

 

[Berbaclass]

Bloody hell

 

[Unlikely lad]

We’ll win nothing with Blundell playing RB

 

[Lightbringer]

FFS Blundell again, lucky there!

 

[Berbaclass]

Feck me what are we doing

What a save Mary

 

[Lightbringer]

WTF, that was a free kick to United any day of the week! Has PSG bought the ref? Clear foul on Turner!

 

[Darkhorsez]

Wow - not looking good

 

[Berbaclass]

We look so off it

 

[Berbaclass]

This will be a long night...

 

[Lightbringer]

PSG showing us that europe is a different ballgame!

 

[Unlikely lad]

Should be 3-0 down to be honest

 

[Berbaclass]

Look completely out of out depth

 

[RedPed]

Gonna be a long evening!

 

[ForeverRed1]

From battle to blundell is a massive difference. PSG look so comfortable and assured on the ball, it really is a different ball game.