London City Lionesses made a positive start to their WSL campaign as they dispatched Eva Olid’s Manchester United 2-0.

The Lionesses have been the talk of the league this summer as they tempted a slew of world-class talents to Bromley, with plenty of pressure on Eder Maestre to string it together and deliver a top-three finish.

The early readings were encouraging, as an own-goal from Julia Zigiotti and a clever flick from Danielle van de Donk sent United home empty-handed, save for Simi Awujo’s last-gasp consolation.

Make no mistake, though. This was a match between two much-changed sides, both very much works in progress.

For London City, this has been the summer of Alexia Putellas. When she signed in July, the club became less Michele Kang’s, more hers.

One would not expect a player as decorated as the veteran Spaniard to allow such a billing to get the better of her, but this move to Bromley is arguably biggest challenge of her career. At Barcelona, she was effectively a one-club woman. This is a step into the unknown, new surroundings for the first time since 2012.

And in the far-from-imposing surrounds of Hayes Lane, watched by what the club claimed was a sell-out crowd largely drawn to watch her, Putellas was subdued.

Starting in the No10, the Lionesses’ hesitance to play through the middle of the park limited her involvement. She managed 34 touches of the ball in the first half, but made few memorable contributions. It was far from a statement start.

Speaking pre-match, Eder Maestre had discussed her importance as a link between midfield and front line, a conduit from possession to chances.

It leaves Maestre with an urgent item right at the top of his to-do list, highlighted in bold.

Eva Olid’s tenure as Man United manager is still in its nascency - Marc Skinner’s departure and her appointment came within five weeks of the season opener.

The early days, namely a winless pre-season campaign, were unconvincing. The transfer dealings, even more so. The dark clouds continued to hang low over day one of the season.

Olid’s first press conference was bullish. She promised to ‘make the impossible possible’, as she did at Hearts, but could not put a timeframe on delivering that promise.

Plainly, Friday came too soon. United were on the back foot for much of the opening exchanges as they struggled to contend with their hosts’ lively press.

Come half-time, they had not managed a shot and trailed thanks to the Zigiotti own-goal, the product of hopeless defending under pressure from Alanna Kennedy.

There was slight improvement in the second half, most notably at the introduction of the lively winger Monica Jusu Bah, but the issues were endemic. Their first attempt of the evening did not come till the 79th minute, and the chance was created by a wild swing-and-a-miss from Ella Toone.

Things will get no easier, with Chelsea and Arsenal the next two clubs on the fixture list. From day one, Olid has a point to prove. She can at least take comfort in Awujo’s equaliser with the last kick of the game.

Eder Maestre, the London City head coach plucked from Real Sociedad, formerly in the backroom at UD Tenerife, is far from the biggest man at London City, but he does have plenty of influence.

Speaking pre-match, Maestre deployed the usual grand promises of a manager in need of a statement. He called for high-possession, fast-paced football replete with plenty of chances.

With the club’s billionaire patron Michele Kang watching on from the director’s box, this was not the time to slip up.

There were big calls in Maestre’s selection. Mary Earps, said to have picked up an injury during an error-strewn pre-season, was left on the bench. In the starting lineup, three debutants.

The bottom line today is the Lionesses came out on top. But there seemed a hangover from last season. The very problems Maestre set out to solve continued to frustrate - high possession, plenty of chances, only one scrappy goal to show for it.

He will take comfort, though, in the knowledge that he has laid strong foundations. His high press effectively disarmed a talented United side, and his defence showed no signs of bowing through spells of high pressure, save for that unfortunate late lapse in concentration.

This may well be the year of the lion.