Man City vs Barcelona LIVE: Women’s Champions League result and reaction as Bunny Shaw scores against holders
City faced a tough outing in their first match of the group stages
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Manchester City produced a massive performance to beat FC Barcelona 2-0 in their Women’s Champions League group stage opener 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 - but that was nothing perhaps, compared to taking on the holders of this trophy and beating them in deserved fashion, following a match of two distinct halves.
In the first 45 it was all City as they were aggressive, quicker to the ball, created plenty of openings and eventually scored from close range through Naomi Layzell; Vivienne Miedema could have added another, but the one-goal lead at the break was certainly the least City deserved. After the restart it was Barcelona who were much more on the front foot, but Aitana Bonmati seeing a low shot saved was as close as they came to an equaliser - and Bunny Shaw instead wrapped up the points with a late breakaway goal for the second for City.
Follow all the Women’s Champions League reaction with our live blog below:
80’ - Bayern 4-2 Arsenal
Into the final ten minutes and it’s another double sub for Arsenal.
Cooney-Cross and Kafaji come on for Walti and Foord but it looks too late now.
Bayern, barring a very surprising final ten minutes, will be claiming three points at home. They’ve been excellent in this second half.
GOAL! 77’ - Bayern 4-2 Arsenal
And after her first, Harder has a second! That surely ends Arsenal’s efforts on the night and Bayern have a two-goal lead for the first time.
Harder won the initial corner, Arsenal cleared but the ball came back in from the left and the Dane was left all alone, six yards out, to nod home her brace and make it 4-2.
GOAL! 72’ - Bayern 3-2 Arsenal
Bayern back in front!
Pernille Harder has her first Champions League goal for Bayern - another corner, another big header and her looped effort flew over a cluster of defenders and into the far corner - great movement, fine finish.
That’s 3-2 to Bayern!
68’ - Bayern 2-2 Arsenal
Into the final quarter of the game then - let’s see what else Arsenal can do after getting back on level terms. Mead tries to free Fox but the pass is underhit and Bayern clear.
Triple change for Bayern: Schuller, Dallmann and Kerr all come on.
Arsenal also brought Alessia Russo on for Blackstenius.
GOAL! 64’ - Bayern 2-2 Arsenal
A respite for the visitors, who have two changes at least ready to make. First they have a corner and McCabe is on it - and it’s in! Headed in by Codina!
Out of absolutely nothing, their first dangerous set piece of the night and a great header into the corner!
Double sub is still made - Beth Mead is on for Maanum, McCabe replaced by Steph Catley.
60’ - Bayern 2-1 Arsenal
Arsenal really struggling to deal with Bayern’s waves of attacks now. Blackstenius briefly has a sight of the ball in the Bayern box but can’t hold up play, then it’s off the other end of the pitch and Harder curls one into the side-netting.
Eidevall surely needs to make changes now.
GOAL! 56’ - Bayern 2-1 Arsenal
There’s the goal - and it has been coming! A quick move upfield sees Lohmann played in down the right channel behind McCabe and the 24-year-old arrows in a low strike, a fine hit but really, Zinsberger has to be disappointed - a classic near-post strike and she’s beaten all ends up.
2-1 to Bayern!
54’ - Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
Eidevall applauds his players from the touchline as they continue to work hard to hold Bayern at bay - but it’s beginning to be one-way traffic somewhat.
Simon lets fly from 25 yards with an angled, left-footed drive, but that one is routine for Zinsberger to make the save.
Bayern with more shots in the game than Arsenal now, six to five.
50’ - Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
Bayern looking a lot more comfortable on the ball at the start of this half - they’ve picked up where they left off, much higher upfield and swinging the ball in at will. Another cross from the right now finds Harder and she nods goalward - but wide again.
46' - Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
OK - back to Arsenal, and back underway.
And straight from kick-off it’s almost 2-1 to Bayern - the ball is rolled to Simon and she wallops a low strike towards goal, Zinsberger just getting a touch on the effort to turn it around the post and wide.
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