Report: Atletico Madrid 0 United Women 3

United rose to the challenge of our first-ever European knockout clash, and were ahead after three minutes when Elisabeth Terland fired home.

Melvine Malard set that opener up and got herself on the scoresheet before the break, curling in to put the Reds 2-0 up as half-time approached.

A sensational Phallon Tullis-Joyce save to keep out a free-kick from former United midfielder Vilde Boe Risa was part of a resilient defensive effort that maintained our clean sheet in the second half, before Julia Zigiotti completed the scoring with just under 10 minutes remaining.

Marc Skinner's side will now take the healthy three-goal advantage back to Manchester, and into next Thursday's second leg at the Progress With Unity Stadium.

FIRST HALF - CLINICAL REDS SHOW CONTROL

In a bid to continuing utilising the wide-ranging quality in his squad, head coach Skinner made three changes to the side that started Saturday's WSL victory at Leicester, with Jayde Riviere, Ellen Wangerheim and Terland taking the places of Hanna Lundkvist, Lisa Naalsund and Lea Schuller.

Terland's inclusion was perhaps a reward for the Norwegian striker netting a points-sealing strike as a substitute at the weekend, and it took her just three minutes to make it goals in back-to-back games. Malard faked to shoot after winning the ball back in midfield, before finding our in-form no.10 on the edge of the 18-yard area, who took the ball into a central position with a right-footed first touch, before powering the ball back across her body and into the net with a devestating left-footed finish.

If that effort was clinical, so was Elisabeth's next attempt, which also found the net. Jess Park's long diagonal forward was knocked down by Wangerheim, making her European debut for the club after joining from Hammarby last month, but Terland was adjudged to be in an offside position when she prodded home another first-time effort on the volley. The assistant referee's flag was quickly raised, putting a brief end to the celebrations from our travelling support at the other end of the ground.

It was at that end of the Centro Deportivo Wanda Alcala de Henares where chants of Zigiotti's name could be heard, as United worked to build on a positive start. Atleti were being afforded little in the way of clearcut openings, but a crucial last-ditch intervention from Anna Sandberg was needed to prevent a one-on-one opportunity for Amaiur Sarriegi, after a through ball escaped the usually reliable control of Dominique Janssen on a bobbly surface.

By the midway point in the opening period, the home side were ensuring the majority of the contest was being played in our half, but Tullis-Joyce remained largely a spectator in the United goal, as our organised outfield shape prevented Atleti from getting too many shots off close to the target. Fiamma fired over from the edge of the 18-yard area, after a neat piece of play, before Lauren headed a searching free-kick delivery from the right wide.

United appeared to be playing with cool heads and strutted with the confidence of a side that knows what it takes to win in Madrid, having beaten Atleti on the same pitch in the league phase. It was 1-0 on that occasion, but there wasn't to be a repeat scoreline this time around, after Malard put us two goals up with half-time approaching.

Credit had to go to Hinata Miyazawa for showing the anticipation and intelligence to intercept a loose pass from Alexia Fernandez in midfield, before setting Malard away down the left. Our French forward, not deterred by initially having the ball tackled from her feet, recovered possession and steadied her body to curl the ball into the far bottom corner.

It turned a good half into a great half for Skinner's side, who were en route to another statement win in our first season competing in Champions League 'proper'.

SECOND HALF - ZIGIOTTI COMPLETES SCORING

The only worry as the teams left the pitch at the end of the half was the sight of Sandberg limping off and, while any fears of an injury to the full-back were somewhat quelled when she re-ermerged for the second 45 minutes, the defender was unfortunately forced off shortly after the restart.

Our no.2 was replaced by Gabby George shortly after Jayde Riviere went close to a rare United goal, after a neat one-two with Terland that saw the latter on the receiving end of a challenge for her troubles. With Elisabeth on the ground, Jayde raced forward into space on the right flank and opted not to square the ball for Malard, instead seeing a powerful strike parried over by Lola Gallardo.

Gallardo in the Atleti goal was then left rooted to the spot when Jess Park arrowed a low effort narrowly wide of the target moments later, as United looked to turn the screw and create some further breathing room in the tie.

Our hosts weren't done in the fight though, and nearly punched back, but for a save of the season contender from Tullis-Joyce. On her toes when called into action, our no.91 produced a jaw-dropping stop to tip a goalbound free-kick from former Red Boe Risa onto the crossbar, before being mobbed by her team-mates with heavy rain now falling.

The potentially slippery conditions under foot meant extra concentration at the back was essential entering the final 20 minutes, an effort exemplified by Maya Le Tissier as she put in two well-timed blocks to continue United's defensive resilience at the back.

That work done in our own half - a real theme of a clinical performance at the other end - made United's third goal even sweeter in the 81st minute. Malard made it a goal and two assists for herself on the evening when she shielded the ball from a challenge, before rolling in Zigiotti on the left side of the penalty area, who let out a roar of delight after expertly drilling home a low strike past Gallardo.

The Swede's name was being sung by our estatic travelling section, who would see George preserve our clean sheet before the clock hit 90, thwarting a goalmouth scramble by clearing the ball behind.

That ensured the scoreline would read 3-0 when the full-time whistle was sounded soon after, ensuring United take a healthy advantage into next Thursday's second leg in Leigh.

MATCH DETAILS

Atletico Madrid: Lola Gallardo (c); Alexia Fernandez, Silvia Lloris (Xenia Perez 44), Lauren, Carmen Menayo (Rosa Otermin 59), Andrea Medina; Boe Risa, Fiamma, Julia Bartel (Kuhl 59); Jensen (Sheila Guijarro 73), Amaiur Sarriegi (Gio Garbelini 74).

Subs not used: Patricia Larque, Alba Bucero, Lydia Rodriguez, Daniela Minambres, Natalia Penalvo, Chinchilla, Macarena Portales.

Booked: Amaiur Sarriegi.

United: Tullis-Joyce; Riviere, Le Tissier (c), Janssen, Sandberg (George 49); Zigiotti, Miyazawa; Wangerheim (Naalsund 61), Park (Awujo 83), Malard; Terland.

Subs not used: Middleton-Patel, Rendell, Lundkvist, Turner, Schuller.

Booked: Wangerheim.

Goals: Terland 3, Malard 39, Zigiotti 81.