Manchester United Women kicked off their UEFA Women’s Champions League campaign in stunning style on Wednesday night, cruising to a commanding 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven. With several key players unavailable — including Grace Clinton and headline summer signing Fridolina Rolfö — there were questions about how the Red Devils would cope. But under the lights at Stockholm Arena, Marc Skinner’s side sent a clear message: they mean business in Europe this season.
Elisabeth Terland was the star of the show, grabbing a clinical hat-trick and showcasing why she’s quickly becoming one of the most feared forwards in the women’s game. Ella Toone, playing in an unfamiliar wide role, was equally impressive, pulling the strings creatively and picking up two assists in a performance full of vision, energy, and maturity.
It took just seven minutes for United to get on the scoresheet. Lisa Naalsund pressed high and won the ball in a dangerous area before slipping in Terland, who finished with trademark ruthlessness. From that moment on, it was all United.
Toone nearly added to the tally herself and was unlucky not to score, her fierce shot saved brilliantly — but only as far as Celin Bizet, who made no mistake with the rebound to double the lead before the break. The left-hand side, driven by Bizet and Anna Sandberg, was a constant threat.
PSV, to their credit, had some talent on the pitch — notably long-time star Renate Jansen and Swiss midfield gem Riola Xhemaili, who impressed at Euro 2025. But they never truly got going. United’s press was relentless, the midfield tempo unmatchable, and in truth, the Dutch side never looked like mounting a comeback.
The second half belonged to Terland. Twice, she latched onto perfectly weighted through-balls from Toone and made no mistake with either finish. Three goals, three moments of calm in front of goal, and a hat-trick that capped a perfect European night.
At the other end, Phallon Tullis-Joyce had little to do but stayed alert, pulling off a superb late save to preserve the clean sheet. The backline, led by Maya Le Tissier and Dominique Janssen, was solid and unfazed.
Special mention must go to Julia Zigiotti Olme, who impressed on debut with her tidy passing and strong defensive work, and to Hinata Miyazawa, who pulled the strings in midfield with grace and precision.
Marc Skinner deserves immense credit for this one. Missing key players, he tweaked his setup to great effect — pushing Naalsund higher, deploying Toone on the right, and setting his team up to press and dominate from the first whistle. It worked to perfection.
Now, United set their sights on Saturday’s showdown against Hammarby — a much tougher opponent, with Champions League group stage experience and top form in Sweden’s Damallsvenskan. It’s a big test, but after a performance like this, confidence will be sky-high in the United camp.
With Toone pulling the strings, Terland finishing everything in sight, and Skinner getting the best out of his squad, United's Champions League dream is alive and kicking.
