United Women Review | Wolfsburg away

Wolfsburg 5 - 2 United

Defensive mistakes cost Marc Skinner's side in Germany.

Author | Olivia T

Pre-match scenes

We came into this one on the back of three solid wins this term, having already put Valerenga, Atletico Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain to the sword. But sadly, our winning run on the continent hit a bump, as the Reds were undone despite a brilliant start from Fridolina Rolfo against her old club.

Rolfo delivered a fine 14th-minute opener at the Volkswagen Arena, giving United the advantage. However, that lead was immediately erased by an equaliser from Ella Peddemors, who then inflicted the real blow, putting the home side ahead to make it 2-1 just after the half-hour mark.

Lineth Beerensteyn extended the German outfit's lead right before half-time, making it look tough for United. Crucially, Melvine Malard popped up in first-half stoppage time to get one back, pulling the Reds within a single goal and ensuring we had something to fight for after the break.

The second-half

The home fans made a decent atmosphere

That set up a potentially enticing second half, but our hopes were dashed. The hosts found the net twice more in the latter 45, with Beerensteyn netting her second of the evening before Vivien Endemann sealed the three points late on, giving the home side a more comfortable win than we deserved.

The result means United missed a real opportunity to secure qualification for at least the knockout play-offs during this trip to Germany. We still hold a top-four position in the table ahead of the upcoming fixtures elsewhere. The lads still have two massive games left in this stage: a home tie against Lyon and an away day at Juventus, both to follow the upcoming international break. 

Competing on multiple fronts is starting to take its toll.

United’s bright start in Germany finally paid off when Rolfo nodded in Malard’s superb cross after the France international danced past Sarai Linder down the left. It was exactly the sort of aggressive, front-foot football we wanted to see, and the early pressure looked to have Wolfsburg rattled.

That didn’t last long. The hosts cranked things up and suddenly our backline was under real strain. Le Tissier’s hurried ball to Middleton Patel invited trouble and the keeper’s mishit clearance fell straight to Peddemors, who punished United with a tidy finish.

Defeat in the #UWCL. pic.twitter.com/a8Eo5TrDZB

— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) November 19, 2025

Skinner’s side looked shaky at set pieces, hesitant on the ball and far too open, and they paid the price when Zigiotti Olme’s stray pass was snapped up by Beerensteyn, who drilled in a ruthless finish.

Malard’s clever hooked effort moments later gave United a glimmer of hope heading into the second half, but Wolfsburg carried far more control. Beerensteyn’s second goal effectively settled the contest and Riviere’s late error that gifted the hosts their fifth only highlighted how poor the defensive display had been.

Four matches in 11 days, three of them defeats, tell their own story. United are struggling to balance the demands of domestic and European football and the lack of depth in the squad is starting to show.