A much improved Manchester United beat **Juventus**1-0 in Turin to secure a home play-off tie in their debut UEFA Champions League season.
The Red Devils took the lead through a sumptuous Jess Park finish and held on to earn their fourth victory of the campaign.
Finishing in sixth, United leapfrog the Black and Whites, who slipped from fourth to eighth, in the league phase.
The draw for the play-off round will take place on Thursday 18th December.
Story of the Match
Massimiliano Canzi opted to make the eleven changes from the win over **Napoli**on the weekend, so the hosts were afforded a fully rotated line-up. Gabby George, Lisa Naalsund and Fridolina Rolfo were the United alterations from their 3-3 thriller against Tottenham.
Both teams began brightly. Juventus had the best chance early doors through Amalie Vangsgaard, who picked Maya Le Tissier's pocket as the centre-back tried to control an aerial ball. The Dane's curled effort forced Phallon Tullis-Joyce into a strong, stretching save.
As the Black and Whites tried to settle in possession, United pounced on eighteen minutes. The move started through Melvine Malard's graceful run from out wide into the middle.
The forward linked up with Jess Park to work it into the penalty area. The England international took it up to play a tight one-two with Rolfo before clipping the ball into the corner past a helpless Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Rather than resting on their laurels, the visitors quickly pushed forward minutes later. Park nearly turned provider as she offloaded it to Malard, who jinked left and right before calling Peyraud-Magnin into action with a swiping shot.
United did well to keep up the tempo and threat. Park in particular was instrumental in maintaining their attacking threat.
With just under ten to go in the half, the 24-year-old scampered down the left and looked as though she would be stopped by Cecilia Salvai, but tenaciously won the 50/50 to continue her run into the final third. Her eventual effort was blocked well by Estela Carbonell.
The first half ended with Juventus' second shot on target through Chiara Beccari, though it was a comfortable catch for Tullis-Joyce.
United were unhurried at the beginning of the second period as the Italian champions struggled to break into the box.
Attacking was still easier to come by for Marc Skinner's team. Some lovely, intricate, one-touch football had all the front four involved, which Park capped with a saved attempt in the opening stages of the half.
After the hour mark, Juventus reminded United of their slender lead as they were presented with their best opportunity of the match. Beccari dispossessed Anna Sandberg to send Cristiana Girelli through on goal. A swift last ditch tackle from Le Tissier prevented the Italian from letting fly.
Beccari proved to be a thorn in United's right-hand side again. The 21-year-old blitzed past Sandberg and fizzed a dangerous cut back into the box. Carbonell was seemingly taken aback by the pace of the ball, scuffing an attempt straight at Tullis-Joyce.
Beccari again set up a similar chance for Vangsgaard moments afterwards. Again, the American keeper was equal to it. Juventus, however, were well and truly back in the contest.
The Red Devils were largely camped in their half, despite some forward-looking substitutions from Skinner. Vangsgaard beat right-back Dominique Janssen for pace and cut in to lash a shot goalwards yet wayward.
Such was Juventus' pressure, United attacks were now rare, yet they arguably should have been given the chance to double their advantage late on.
Simi Awujo's pass found Elisabeth Terland in behind. Centre-back Salvai stepped across Terland inside the box, taking the Norwegian to the ground. Though no penalty was awarded.
Fortunately for the red half of Manchester, it was not costly as they remained resilient at the back to edge the win.
After a slight wobble in the opening minutes, the captain went on to lead her side with a composed and robust showing.
The defender's tackle on Girelli was perfectly-timed to stop one of Europe's finest finishers from taking a shot on. Her positioning and bravery in defence while the Italian side mined for an equaliser was vital in securing the three points.