Manchester United survived Dominique Janssen’s controversial red card to continue their 100 per cent start to life in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

Fridolina Rolfo had given the visitors the lead with her first goal for the club after an impressive opening 25 minutes, but United were left shellshocked just before half-time after Janssen was given her marching orders following a VAR review.

The defender had been originally shown a yellow card after bringing down Atleti striker Gio Garbelini. While the original decision seemed a fair one given the nature of the challenge, referee Eleni Antoniou was sent to the on-field monitor to review the decision.

The card was overturned and changed to a red, with Garbelini subsequently stretchered off following the challenge.

Despite that, the visitors were able to hold on to their slender lead. Rolfo, the former Barcelona player, thumped home a powerful volley from close range to give her side the advantage with her 20th goal in the Champions League.

United should have been 2-0 up prior to the red card as Melvine Malard and Julia Zigiotti Olme combined wonderfully on the edge of the penalty area but the former couldn’t apply the finishing touch from close range.

Atletico provided more pressure thanks to their numerical advantage, with Phallon Tullis-Joyce having to be at her best to deny Luamy.

Any hopes that the extra player could pay dividends were ended when, with a little over a quarter of an hour remaining, Athletic defender Alexia Fernandez was shown a second yellow card following a reckless challenge on substitute Leah Galton. Galton would help create another golden opportunity for Malard late doors, which was wasted.

That miss didn’t change the end result, though, as United ensured they maintained their 100 per cent start in their debut Champions League campaign, making them the only English side to do so.

Skinner praises 10-player Man Utd spirit

Marc Skinner hailed the “Manchester United spirit” of his side after they overcame Janssen’s first-half red card to maintain their perfect start to the new Women’s Champions League campaign.

“There are games where you play beautiful football and there are games where you fight and you show the other side of the game and the quality that you have as a team,” Skinner said in an interview on the Manchester United website.

“Qualities are easy to measure when you are scoring lots of goals, but to fight when everything’s against you, and to do that with the quality and spirit that this team has shown tonight, just shows what we are building. I am really incredibly proud of them.”

Skinner added: “I was always brought up on watching Manchester United in Europe on TV, watching the historic moments, the tight games where they just turn it on and they have the ability to win those games.

“Looking at our team, I think we have that same spirit – we have a Manchester United spirit through and through.”

Rolfo: ‘Game changed after red card’

Manchester United goalscorer Fridolina Rolfo speaking to ESPN:

“It feels great at the moment. We fought really hard today. It was a tough one. Really happy with the three points. Really strong mentality.

“We knew we were playing a good team. Spanish teams are always technically and tactically good. It was important to score an early goal. The game changed when we got the red card. Mentally, it was a game that changed a lot.

“It’s very important. You can see today that we have players on the bench that can have a great impact. You see players like Leah Galton coming in. She did a great job, made some great tackles and kept the ball. We need the whole team, not just the starting XI.

“I can tell it means a lot to the club [playing in the Champions League]. There’s so many girls who have been waiting for this. We are doing great at the moment, I hope we can continue like this.”

‘We want to prove we are good without the ball’

Manchester United’s Julia Zigiotti Olme speaking to ESPN:

“That was a tough game. A lot of running, a lot of blocking. A lot of heart from the team. Happy to get the win.

“The first quarter of the season we’ve been really good. Today wasn’t our best game but we show we are proud to be Manchester United players.

“Every player that came in made a difference. They helped the team. I can’t find the words right now. They gave everything and helped us.

“I think it’s important for us that even though these things happen [the red card], we can stand up for ourselves and can show that we are good at defending even though we don’t have the ball.”

‘Garbelini’s injury impacted Atleti’

Atletico Madrid’s Vilda Boe Risa speaking to ESPN about the injury suffered by Gio Garbelini:

“It was not nice. She was in a lot of pain. She was really really scared and upset because she knew what was happening.

“We just tried to calm her down and say, ‘you don’t know what it is yet’.

“To calm down obviously is difficult. I’m gutted for her. She’s an incredible player. Hopefully it isn’t too much of a serious injury.”