By TARA ANSON-WALSH, FOOTBALL REPORTER
Published: 18:04 EDT, 25 March 2026 | Updated: 18:04 EDT, 25 March 2026
When Pernille Harder marked her swansong season at Chelsea with the winning goal against Manchester United in the 2023 FA Cup final, those in red may have been hoping they’d seen the back of the Danish striker.
But as it turns out, sometimes old foes can come back to haunt you. Harder's brace – and a third from Momoko Tanikawa in the 84th minute – has given United an almighty task to carry with them to the Allianz Arena next week.
Playing for the first time in a Women’s Champions League knockout game, it was just a shame that UEFA rules stipulate they must play their knockout games at Old Trafford.
Leigh Sports Village, while undoubtedly without the grandeur and history of United’s century-old stadium, remains an imposing place for teams to travel to, helped in no small part by the proximity of the stands to the pitch.
Here at Old Trafford on a near-freezing Wednesday night, Old Trafford had just one of its four stands open, and the noise being generated by those sat in the Sir Matt Busby Stand struggled to linger.
Perhaps this contributed to the palpable nervousness around the ground before kick-off, and in just 98 seconds, United’s biggest fears came true.
Pernille Harder's brace – and a third from Momoko Tanikawa in the 84th minute – has given United an almighty task to carry with them to the Allianz Arena next week
United have been made out of thicker stuff in the last couple of seasons though, twice fighting back to draw the scores level despite going behind
A fizzing pass from Bayern’s Arianna Caruso from deep dropped in front of Maya Le Tissier. The United captain misjudged the trajectory of the ball and found herself wrong-footed and caught in a frantic chase with Bayern’s Pernille Harder.
The inevitably of former Chelsea forward Harder, who United remember with dread for scoring the match-winning goal that denied them their first major silverware in 2023, had returned to haunt them. The 33-year-old Dane latched onto the ball and buried home.
United have been made out of thicker stuff in the last couple of seasons though, and refused to keel over despite having the wind knocked out of their sails.
In fact, they had the better chances in the phase that followed – and had a helping hand from Bayern defender Glodis Perla Viggosdottir just 20 minutes later.
Lea Schuller, who has had a stuttering start to her career in red since her high-profile move from Bayern in January, picked up a wonderful pass from the returning Hinata Miyazawa on the wing and drove towards the box.
Her unconvincing shot towards goal was parried away by the right arm of the retreating Viggosdottir, and the referee pointed towards the penalty area.
Even more unconvincing was Le Tissier’s penalty conversion. The Lionesses centre back scuffed her shot and the Bayern goalkeeper Ena Mahmutovic should have done better to get down in time, but the scores were level, and that was all that mattered to those in red.
In the second half, Harder struck again. Her goal, an almost carbon copy of her first, was buried into the left-hand corner of Phallon Tullis-Joyce’s net once again.
United’s Hanna Lundkvist popped up with a header to bring the scores level once again, before Tanikawa delivered a wonderful finish to restore the Germans’ lead once again.
Those in red left with their heads hung low. The damage is not final, but it certainly won’t be easy.