Weir comes back to haunt Manchester City as Real Madrid secure UWCL Round 2 spot

Caroline Weir scored the winning goal against her former club as Real Madrid defeated Manchester City 1-0 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League Round 1 final this evening.

Weir swapped the Barclays Women’s Super League for Spain in the summer and her first half strike for Real Madrid sent her former club crashing out of the UEFA Women’s Champions League at the first hurdle.

It was Real Madrid who were the stronger of the two sides early on and Manchester City keeper Ellie Roebuck had to be at her very best to keep an Olga Carmona effort out of the net.

The hosts took the lead six minutes later when Weir wriggled across a couple of Manchester City defenders before thumping her shot into the top corner.

Manchester City responded and Laia Aleixandri headed wide from a corner kick before Weir sent a cheeky long range effort narrowly over at the other end.

Real Madrid really should have been two goals to the good going into the half-time interval. The Whites kept the ball alive at the back post and Kathellen Sousa looked certain to score but she fired her effort onto the bar.

Manchester City went close early in the second half but Khadija Shaw saw her impressive volley saved by Misa Rodríguez. At the other end, Roebuck had to be alert to push a Weir strike to safety.

Aleixandri then headed a chance narrowly wide before Esme Morgan was inches away from levelling matters, her effort flying the wrong side of the far post. Manchester City went even closer with their next chance as Deyna Castellanos directed her effort onto the woodwork.

Despite being a goal to the good, Real Madrid were keen to put the game to bed with forward Esther González having three late chances to score. Her first effort was deflected onto the bar before her second and third shots were saved by Roebuck.

Lauren Hemp had the final effort of the match. Her driven strike went wide across goal as Manchester City were dumped out of Europe at the hands of Spanish opposition again.