Manchester City made the perfect start to this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage by beating reigning champions FC Barcelona 2-0 at The Joie Stadium this evening.
Naomi Layzell fired The Cityzens into the lead in the first half before Khadija Shaw’s cool finish in the second period capped-off a famous victory for the Barclays Women’s Super League side.
The first chance of the game fell Barcelona’s way but Caroline Graham Hansen was denied by the post.
Manchester City quickly settled into the tie themselves and they soon began to control the game and create chances. Shaw, Jess Park and Vivianne Miedema all threatened the Barcelona goal before Lauren Hemp saw a shot stump the post.
At the other end, Manchester City defender Laia Aleixandri superbly kept Ewa Pajor’s effort out of the net before visiting keeper Cata Coll denied Shaw.
The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when Miedema kept the ball alive from a corner kick and Layzell scrambled it home from close range.
Barcelona had a chance to level matters in first half stoppage time when Graham Hansen took aim at goal but Ayaka Yamashita was able to make a save.
The visitors could only play better in the second half and they did begin to put more pressure on the Manchester City goal, although the hosts defended bravely. Aitana Bonmatí had a good chance but hesitated before being denied by Yamashita while Claudia Pina also went close to levelling matters. Keira Walsh then tested Yamashita with a shot from the edge of the box.
Yamashita’s next action was to uncomfortably push a Bonmatí effort over the bar before Manchester City went up the other end and grabbed a second goal on the break. Shaw rounded Coll before placing the ball into the back of the net.
After going two goals down, Barcelona threw everything at Manchester City in the closing stages but they were unable to make the breakthrough as they slipped to a rare defeat.
Manchester City travel to Austria on Matchday 2 to face St. Pölten while Barcelona play host to Hammarby IF.
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