Manchester’s early autumn schedule is giving Rebeca Bernal a steady route into life at Manchester United. The Mexican defender made her fourth appearance for the club on Sunday, coming off the bench in a 2-1 Women’s Super League victory over West Ham United and adding another chapter to a busy first spell in England.
Bernal began the fourth-round match among the substitutes at Old Trafford after scoring twice in United’s 10-1 Women’s League Cup win against Sheffield United a few days earlier. She was introduced in the 76th minute for Ella Toone, with the home side already two goals ahead.
Elisabeth Terland had put United in front after nine minutes, before Andrea Medina doubled the advantage in the 72nd minute. West Ham found a late reply when Vivianne Asseyi converted a penalty three minutes into added time, but there was no opportunity for the visitors to build a recovery.
For Bernal, formerly of Rayadas de Monterrey, it was a relatively quiet closing spell but another useful accumulation of minutes. She now has 170 minutes across four United outings: three in the league and one in the League Cup.
Her only start so far came against Sheffield United, where her two-goal contribution marked her first goals for the club. She was an unused substitute in the opening league fixture against London City Lionesses, then entered against Chelsea in the 62nd minute, receiving a yellow card, and featured from the 53rd minute against Arsenal before Sunday’s appearance against West Ham.
The next week offers United two more fixtures and another chance for Bernal to strengthen her place in Eva Olid’s squad. United travel to Durham on Wednesday, 30 September, for their second Women’s League Cup group match, scheduled for 12:00 Central Mexico time.
They then return home for a Women’s Super League meeting with Liverpool on Saturday, 3 October, kicking off at 06:30 Central Mexico time. The match will be important as United seek to continue climbing the league table, with Bernal’s first weeks in Manchester already suggesting that she is becoming a regular part of the rotation.
