This win makes three wins out of three for Utd but for PSG it’s three successive defeats in the 18 team competition.
It looked like Utd were suffering a hangover from their first Women’s Super League defeat of the season at the weekend. This coupled with the fact that PSG knocked the home side out of their first ever European campaign in 2023/24 meant the omens looked against the Red Devils.
Certainly PSG started off brightly at the start of both halves hitting the woodwork in the first minutes of the first and second period through Jennifer Echegini and Anais Ebayillin.
The persistent rain throughout the game made the surface slick and the French team adapted better, always looking threatening, so it was a surprise when Melvine Malard gave the hosts the lead just after the half-hour.
And it looked like Utd were beginning to adapt to the conditions until in added time at the end of the first half Olga Carmona hit an absolute stunner from 25 yards to level
Again it was PSG who started strongly but Utd with one of their rare fluid moves ended with Fridolina Rolfe heading the home side back in front on 58m. This seemed to rejuvenate the hosts but they failed to take their opportunities and PSG began to reassert themselves and the Utd goal began to lead a charmed life.
But even with constant pressure and six minutes of added time the Utd defence held firm against the long, high ball to record a gritty victory and a chance of advancing to February's knockout round play-offs.
A sideshow to the game was the return of former Utd keeper Mary Earps who was in goal for the home team when these clubs met two seasons ago. The 32 year old recently published a controversial autobiography criticising the current England keeper and manager plus comments about her time at Old Trafford.
She hoped to receive a good reception from the home crowd and be remembered for what she achieved at the club, including their first major trophy. It did not start too well for the former England international as she was booed from the get go and it was hard to judge whether it was pantomime villain stuff or with malicious intent.
It all ended well as her former colleagues went to give their best wishes at the final whistle and as Earps walked past the 14,677 home fans she finally got the generous applause her previous shift in Manchester deserved.