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:
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.
16’ - Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Stanway loses out in midfield and Arsenal try to overload on the counter, but one loose pass and Bayern have it back. Buhl is all alone in attack though and it’s coming straight back at the hosts; McCabe takes on two, leaves Lohmann on the ground and ... scuffs a shot wide of the near post.
Good build-up, lacking in execution though.
12’ - Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Simon fouls Mariona Caldentey and it’s a chance for the Gunners to deliver some quality into the box. Maanum and McCabe over the set piece...it’s the latter, and it’s reached by Codina, but a toepoke towards goal doesn’t have enough power to trouble the keeper and Grohs saves again.
8’ - Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Bayern just trying to put some sustained pressure on Arsenal now - Stanway has a strike from 20 yards or so, fierce but very central and easy for Zinsberger to collect.
No real headway into the Bayern defensive third yet for the visitors, though Maanum now arrows one from a similar distance to Stanway, on target but with a similar result.
4’ - Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
McCabe seeing plenty of the ball in the opening spell, trying to get Arsenal on the front foot and move them forward - but it’s Pernille Harder who almost opens up Arsenal in the first driving run into the box, skipping past two challenges before being crowded out.
Five Champions League games without a goal for Harder.
1’ - Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Underway in Munich! Plenty of changes for Arsenal from the weekend - will that spark them into action after that listless showing?
Bayern in possession in the opening stages as you might expect - they’ll feel goals will be on the agenda once more tonight at home.
Bayern v Arsenal - live updates
The players are out, the lights are on - and the anthem is being played. The Bayern Campus holds around 2,500 fans and that stand looks fairly well packed out.
And...right before kick-off, DAZN’s coverage cuts out for a moment. Thankfully back up and running in time for the start!
The Gunners wearing their very smart black away kit tonight.
Bayern v Arsenal - live updates
Kick-off on the way from Munich shortly - and don’t forget we’ll be straight over to Man City against Barcelona following this match!
Pressure on Arsenal highlights ‘problem’ of the Women’s Champions League
At full-time at the Emirates on Sunday, the deflation among the Arsenal fans was such that a 0-0 draw against Everton was greeted with a shrug and a sigh before a slow trudge home through the damp October mist. This was not how they envisioned starting a major week in the club’s season. Rather than bouncing into the start of the Women’s Champions League, Arsenal slumped to a dispiriting goalless draw at home. “We are disappointed with the result and the performance,” said Jonas Eidevall, unable to hide from what was clearly evident.
Then came the warning. “I think it is going to be a tough, challenging Women’s Super League this season, probably the toughest one we have ever had,” the Arsenal manager added. Their next fixtures may illustrate why. On Wednesday, the Gunners face the trip to Bayern Munich in their opening match of the Women’s Champions League group stage. Then on Saturday, Arsenal host London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates in one of their biggest games of the season. Given Arsenal’s start, it could be filed under “must not lose”, too.
According to Eidevall, Arsenal have also been handed a “disadvantage” ahead of two huge games. The Gunners face tight turnarounds for both, with one day less preparation time than their opponents. Bayern played on Saturday, while Chelsea host Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, having also had the weekend off.
Pressure on Arsenal highlights ‘problem’ of the Women’s Champions League
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City will have to negotiate tough schedules as they battle on multiple fronts – but a historic season can also showcase the strength of the English clubs
Bayern Munich Women vs Arsenal Women prediction: German giants may squish Gunners
Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday as they get their Women’s Champions League campaign underway at the FC Bayern Campus.
The Gunners have had a mixed start to the WSL season with two draws and just one win from their opening three games. The win was a narrow 1-0 success over Leicester while they drew 2-2 with Manchester City and 0-0 with Everton at the weekend.
They have also played four qualifying matches to reach this stage of the Champions League after finishing third in the Women’s Super League last season, behind Chelsea and City.
They beat Rangers 6-0 and Rosenborg 1-0 before overcoming another Swedish side in Hacken 4-1 on aggregate in a two-legged affair.
Arsenal lost the away leg against Hacken 1-0 and betting sites are forecasting another tough European away trip with Bayern a best-price of 11/8 for the win.
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