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:
HT - Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
Stats so far at the break:
Possession 49 - 51
Shots 3-5
On target 3-4
Corners 1-1
Yellows 0-1
Offsides 2-3
HT - Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
There’s the whistle and we’re all square, one apiece at half-time.
Caldentey’s opener was well-taken after a fine McCabe cross, but Glodis Perla looped in an equalising header just a couple of minutes before the interval.
45’ - Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
Three minutes added on at the end of the first half - the Gunners couldn’t quite get to the break with the lead intact.
GOAL! 42’ - Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
First chance for the hosts - good save from Zinsberger! A slip by McCabe and Gwinn is in, firing in a shot which is high and hard...and beaten away by the keeper.
Promising for Bayern - and as the ball comes back into the box by Stanway, Glodis Perla Viggosdottir is still up from the set piece and she leaps to divert a header over Zinsberger and into the far corner off the post!
All square again before the break.
40’ - Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Five minutes to the break and Arsenal just now sitting off a little for the first time - more possession and time on the ball now for Stanway and Co. Can they fashion something before the interval? It has been very low-key from them so far.
Yellow card now for Codina for dragging down Harder as she looked to race onto a long ball over the top - perhaps unnecessary, but Arsenal clear the freekick so no immediate damage done.
36’ - Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Walti so far winning the battle with Stanway and Zadrazil to protect Arsenal’s back line from the runners from deep - Bayern really haven’t created anything in this half or managed any kind of sustained pressure.
Jonas Eidevall will be delighted at this much-improved showing from the weekend.
32’ - Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Bayern now trying to get themselves back into the game and DAZN have thankfully sorted out their sound issues after overlaying a totally different game for the last few minutes.
GOAL! 28’ - Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal are ahead! Caldentey with the opening goal, a fine move down the left and McCabe’s cross is met by a first-time, side-footed volley from the Spaniard and it flies past Grohs for 1-0!
24’ - Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
An injury concern now for Giulia Gwinn, who gets a bit of an ankle twist in a midfield challenge. Just over midway through this first half - Arsenal with more possession and a couple of shots more than Bayern so far in what has been a positive start.
Slightly timid from both perhaps, but plenty of time to work their way into this game and competition. Gwinn looks set to continue.
20’ - Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Maanum maybe considers a shot as the ball rolls across the edge of the box, but opts out and the opening is gone. Blackstenius does well to work hard and win the corner - the Gunners on top in the last few minutes. Can they make it count though?
McCabe takes it, it’s not actually a good one and should be cleared near post but is totally missed - and it bounces just in front of the line, with no black shirt on hand to poke it over and in for the opening goal. An escape for Bayern.
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