Manchester United secured a Champions League spot and ended Manchester City’s hopes of doing so as they came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with their derby rivals at Old Trafford.

City, needing a win to keep their chances alive, went 2-0 up late in the first half via a Laia Aleixandri strike and Rebecca Knaak header.

But United hit back before the interval with Grace Clinton heading in, then drew level in the 68th minute via Melvine Malard, and despite having Aoife Mannion sent off moments after that, Marc Skinner’s FA Cup finalists held out to seal a finish in the Women’s Super League’s top three.

They go a point behind second-placed Arsenal, who are at Brighton on Monday. United then play the Gunners away in next Saturday’s final round of league fixtures, before taking on WSL champions Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

City, meanwhile, are left outside the European places at the end of a disappointing, trophyless campaign that has been overseen since March by interim boss Nick Cushing after the sacking of Gareth Taylor.

It is a season in which City have had considerable injury problems, and there was a boost on that front as Lauren Hemp and and skipper Alex Greenwood made their first starts of 2025 having returned to fitness.

However, it was not long into the contest that they were hit with another issue as Leila Ouahabi had to be replaced, Knaak coming on to replace her in the 10th minute.

United thought they had the lead a few moments later when Elisabeth Terland headed in, but referee Emily Heaslip ruled it should be disallowed for a push on Aleixandri.

City then threatened as Kerolin brought a good save out of Phallon Tullis-Joyce and Knaak looped a header wide, before United were forced into a change themselves, Jayde Riviere limping off and Aoife Mannion going on.

The visitors exerted further pressure and after Kesrtin Casparij fired wide, Aleixandri’s curled effort put them in front in the 38th minute, the Spaniard connecting with Hemp’s pass following good work by Kerolin.

Hemp then went close, Tullis-Joyce tipping her strike over, and soon after City did have a second with Knaak sending a 42nd-minute header in from Yui Hasegawa’s corner.

Three minutes later United replied as Clinton met Mannion’s delivery to head past Khiara Keating.

After Tullis-Joyce dealt with a tame Hemp shot early in the second half, the hosts then equalised midway through when Malard, who had replaced Celin Bizet, was played in by Terland’s header and slotted in.

They had barely finished celebrating before they were reduced to 10 players, Mannion being shown a second yellow after fouling Kerolin.

City subsequently pushed to try to take advantage but were unable to find the net as Laura Coombs struck over, substitute Jill Roord saw a shot blocked by Millie Turner and Kerolin curled narrowly wide.