Manchester City made an incredible go back to the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, beating owners Barcelona 2-0 in the opening round of team phase matches as Bayern Munich downed Arsenal 5-2.
Both groups struck the woodwork in a vibrant beginning to the Group D clash at a sold-out Joie Stadium in Manchester, with City getting hold of the lead when protector Naomi Layzell fearlessly clambered home.
Vivianne Miedema headed wisely back throughout objective from an edge and a lunging Layzell responded quickest to push the sphere past a group of Barcelona gamers.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or victor Aitana Bonmati went near to an equaliser with a dispersed initiative, yet Khadija Shaw got hold of a 2nd for City to condemn Barcelona to an unusual loss.
Shaw defeated the offside catch with a perfectly-timed go to acquire Layzell’s pass and rounded goalkeeper Cata Coll to secure a remarkable win.
“It’s fantastic from Naomi and Bunny (Shaw) finishes it off. It gave the players a real lift and we have to remember who we’re playing against. It’s a step for us,” City supervisor Gareth Taylor informed DAZN.
“I said in my press conference yesterday that I really admire Barcelona and what they’ve done and we try to replicate that.”
City are making their very first team phase look, having actually last played in the Champions League correct in 2020-21 when Barcelona knocked them out in the quarter-finals.
The loss is just Barcelona’s 2nd in 19 video games in the team phase considering that its intro for the 2021-22 period. It is likewise the very first time they have actually fallen short to rack up an objective.
Pernille Harder racked up a second-half hat-trick as Bayern started their Group C project with a persuading success over Arsenal in Germany.
Arsenal led with Mariona Caldentey’s strike in Germany, yet Bayern captain Glodis Viggosdottir brought the home side degree prior to Sydney Lohmann placed them in advance.
Laia Codina equalised for Arsenal midway with the 2nd fifty percent just for Harder to discover the web 3 times in the last 20 mins to protect an outstanding win for German champs Bayern.
“The last few years have been tough with injuries, so now I’m just happy to be back playing in the Champions League. I was happy with the goals and the win,” stated Harder, that finished a two-year objective dry spell in the competitors.
Juventus are degree with Bayern on 3 factors complying with a 1-0 win away to Norway’s Valerenga, with Sofia Cantore netting the only objective.
Swedish side Hammarby won their very first team phase video game 2-0 versus Austrian champs St Poelten, that are showing up in the team stage for the 3rd period straight.
Vilde Hasund’s long-range initiative offered Hammarby the lead and Cathinka Tandberg complied with up her late victor in certifying by finishing up the factors with one more objective 2 mins from time.
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