United Women confirm passage in Europe
Manchester United Women have secured at least a knockout-phase play-off spot in this season's UEFA Women's Champions League.
After amassing nine points from our opening four games in the competition, Marc Skinner's side ensured at least a top-12 finish on Thursday evening, following the full completion of matchday four.
Wins over Valerenga, Atletico Madrid and PSG preceded our most recent loss against Wolfsburg in midweek, with the Reds still, for the moment, standing firm in the top four.
The ultimate aim remains to secure a place in the first quartet of positions, given that would ensure an instant passage into the quarter-finals of the competition, therefore avoiding the extra two fixtures of a two-legged play-off tie.
Women's international guide for November
ArticleFind out which of our players are in action for their nations across the next two weeks.
Along with Barcelona, Lyon, Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, United now cannot finish lower than 12th in the league-phase table.
Each team in the competition still has two games left to play, one at home and one away, with the Reds next set to play European regulars Lyon at the Progress With Unity Stadium on 10 December.
Our final game in the league phase is away at Juventus on 17 December, a week later, with it then known after the encounter which final spot we will occupy.
After the completion of the league phase, 12 teams will advance - four directly to the quarter-finals and the rest to the knockout-phase play-offs. The draw to set the knockout bracket will be held on Thursday 18 December.
The teams ranked 13th to 18th will be eliminated, but as we now know, due to 13th-placed Valerenga playing 12th-placed Paris FC in matchday five, it is no longer possible for Skinner's side to finish in those elimination positions.
Credit must go to our women's side for achieving such a feat, in the team's first-ever Champions League 'proper' campaign.
Congratulations to all, the journey continues!
Knockout draw: 18 December
Knockout-phase play-offs: 11/12 & 18/19 February
Quarter-finals: 24/25 March & 1/2 April
Semi-finals: 25/26 April & 2/3 May
Final (Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo): 23 May