Manchester City made the ideal start to this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League group phase by beating ruling champs FC Barcelona 2-0 at The Joie Stadium this night.
Naomi Layzell fired The Cityzens into the lead in the very first half before Khadija Shaw’s cool surface in the 2nd duration capped-off a well-known success for the Barclays Women’s Super League side.
The initially opportunity of the video game fell Barcelona’s method however Caroline Graham Hansen was rejected by the post.
Manchester City rapidly settled into the tie themselves and they quickly started to manage the video game and develop opportunities. Shaw, Jess Park and Vivianne Miedema all threatened the Barcelona objective before Lauren Hemp saw a shot stump the post.
At the other end, Manchester City protector Laia Aleixandri fantastically kept Ewa Pajor’s effort out of the internet before checking out keeper Cata Coll rejected Shaw.
The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when Miedema kept the ball alive from a corner kick and Layzell rushed it home from close quarters.
Barcelona had an opportunity to level matters in very first half blockage time when Graham Hansen took goal at objective however Ayaka Yamashita had the ability to make a conserve.
The visitors might just play much better in the 2nd half and they did start to put more pressure on the Manchester City objective, although the hosts protected fearlessly. Aitana Bonmatí had a great chance however was reluctant before being rejected by Yamashita while Claudia Pina likewise went near levelling matters. Keira Walsh then checked Yamashita with a shot from the edge of package.
Yamashita’s next action was to annoyingly press a Bonmatí effort over the bar before Manchester City increased the other end and got a 2nd objective on the break. Shaw rounded Coll before positioning the ball into the back of the internet.
After going 2 objectives down, Barcelona tossed whatever at Manchester City in the closing phases however they were not able to make the advancement as they slipped to an unusual defeat.
Manchester City travel to Austria on Matchday 2 to deal with St. Pölten while Barcelona play host to Hammarby IF.
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