Man City vs Barcelona LIVE: Women’s Champions League latest score and goals as Shaw and Bonmati start
City face a tough outing in their first match of the group stages
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Manchester City take on FC Barcelona in their Women’s Champions League group stage opener in what we be a difficult and testing encounter against the reigning champions.
Gareth Taylor’s side came through qualifying to reach this stage of the tournament and impressed with a superb 8-0 aggregate win over Paris FC. They won the first leg 5-0 away from home with Vivianne Mediema, Jess Park, Mary Fowler and Chloe Kelly all on the scoresheet before an equally comfortable 3-0 victory at the Joie Stadium back in September.
City have been drawn against Barca, Swedish side Hammarby and Austria’s St Polten in Group D, with the most demanding of those fixtures first up. A win against Barcelona will put them in pole position to qualify for the knockout rounds. But it won’t be easy, Barcelona have made an incredible start to their domestic campaign, with five wins and 25 goals across their first five games meaning things will be tough for City tonight.
Follow all the Women’s Champions League action with our live blog below, following the conclusion of Bayern v Arsenal:
20’ - Man City 0-0 Barcelona
What a block! Terrible error as Yamashita comes out, gets nowhere near the ball and it’s an open goal for Pajor it seems...until Aleixandri comes flying in from nowhere and slides the ball away! Tremendous recovery to keep the scores level.
What a start to this game!
18’ - Man City 0-0 Barcelona
So close to an opener! Shaw beats her marker again down the right channel and this time takes her time before pulling the ball across the six-yard box, finding Hemp...and she blazes her effort past Coll and against the post!
City should be ahead, no question. Shaw giving the Barcelona defence all sorts of issues so far. Still 0-0 though!
16’ - Man City 0-0 Barcelona
Putellas with a great first touch to take a bouncing ball and line up a half-volley from the edge of the box - well held by Yamashita.
Up the other end Shaw powers her way past two defenders and produces a cutback for Miedema, but two Barcelona bodies go flying in to block both that shot and the attempt on the rebound.
As Putellas then tries to break out down the left, Aleixandri chops her down - easy yellow card.
12’ - Man City 0-0 Barcelona
Cata Coll, cool as you like! She’s two yards from her own goalline, Park is closing her down at pace...and the Barcelona keeper just drags the ball back, turns away and passes out before Shaw could follow in too.
Plenty of shouts of excitement from City fans but the keeper was clearly never worried!
Hemp then barges Batlle off the ball in the box and is appalled the decision goes against her.
8’ - Man City 0-0 Barcelona
Two big openings for Man City - Barcelona having to stand firm now! Shaw is in and just needs a good first touch to get a shot away, but hesitates and is crowded out. Then Park lines up an absolute howitzer from outside the box and it’s a really good block from Leon to clear the danger.
Positive start for City though, certainly not happy to sit back and cling on from the outset.
4’ - Man City 0-0 Barcelona
Graham Hansen looks to get on the end of a big chance in the opening stages - she wants a corner but it’s not forthcoming.
Man City get their early warning.
Fowler tries to set Shaw away, but the pass is way too far in front and rolls through to Coll.
1’ - Man City 0-0 Barcelona
Underway! Barcelona immediately in possession and moving the ball around - City very much straight in their faces.
Man City v Barcelona - latest updates
Right, game No.2 - City against the holders Barcelona. A reminder of the teams:
Man City XI: Yamashita, Layzell, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Miedema, Fowler, Hemp, Park, Casparij, Shaw, Hasegawa
Bacelona XI: Coll, Maria Leon, Graham, Alexia, Patri, Aitana, Rolfo, Pajor, Walsh, O. Battle, Engen
FT - Bayern Munich 5-2 Arsenal
Report and reaction from Arsenal’s defeat to come later on - for now we’re straight over to the next Champions League big match, with Manchester City hosting reigning champions Barcelona.
Lots of action to come, stay tuned!
FT - Bayern Munich 5-2 Arsenal
A bit of a drubbing in the end for Arsenal - they were solid in the first half but once Bayern turned up the heat after the restart, there was simply no living with them.
Even so, those three goals scored by Pernille Harder to wrap up Bayern’s victory will cause Jonas Eidevall some consternation - free and unmarked, two, five and ten yards out, to score a hat-trick in the Champions League. Not great.
Still, there are five matches ahead and Arsenal will expect a response, particularly back in the WSL next weekend following the goalless draw with Everton.
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