Manchester United Women are set to face Vålerenga in their first-ever appearance in the UEFA Women's Champions League group stage, a historic moment for the club. The highly anticipated match will take place on October 8, 2025, at Leigh Sports Village in Leigh, England, with a scheduled kick-off time of 19:00 UTC.
Manchester United earned their place in the group stage after successfully navigating the qualifying rounds, overcoming challenges from PSV Eindhoven, Hammarby, and Brann. In their European debut two years prior, they were eliminated in qualifying by Paris Saint-Germain, but this time around, Elisabeth Terland's hat-tricks against PSV and her former club Brann proved crucial in securing their qualification. Her performance against Brann was particularly significant, overturning a 1-0 deficit in the second leg.
Vålerenga, hailing from Oslo, have also had a successful journey to the group stage, overcoming HJK Helsinki, Slavia Prague, and Ferencvaros, scoring 10 goals while only conceding one. They are currently engaged in a tight competition for the Toppserien title, as they seek their third consecutive victory.
This match marks the first time these two teams have met in UEFA competition, adding an element of the unknown to the encounter. Both teams are currently in strong form, promising an exciting and competitive match.
For those unable to attend the game in person, the match will be broadcast live on Disney+ in the UK. Additionally, Manchester United's YouTube channel will host a live watchalong, featuring commentary from Liam Bradford, ex-Red Aoife Mannion, and former England defender Lindsay Johnson.
In terms of team news, Anna Sandberg has returned to the lineup after recovering from illness, while Simi Awujo and Hannah Blundell are also available. Leah Galton is progressing in her recovery from injury, while Millie Turner is expected to be out until Christmas.
Vålerenga's key player, Olaug Tvedten, has an impressive 27 goal involvements in the Toppserien, although she is yet to score in the Champions League. Veteran Elise Thorsnes, aged 37, is also in good form, having recently scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory over Bodo/Glimt. Vålerenga's previous Champions League experience includes facing formidable opponents such as Arsenal, Bayern Munich, and Juventus last season.
The format of the Women's Champions League has been updated to align more closely with the men's tournament, adding further anticipation to this year's competition.
