Manchester City 2-0 Barça: Just the start

The defence of their Champions League title did not get off to the best of starts for Barça Women as they went down to defeat in their opening fixture of the 2024/25 campaign. Pere Romeu's lost 2-0 away at Manchester City in their first fixture in Group D, the English team having the better of a contest in which the blaugranes only performed to their potential in patches. 

Early woodwork 

The contest started brightly for Barça, winners in 2023/24, with Caroline Graham Hansen striking the post in the Joie Stadium with just four minutes played. Almost immediately Mapi León also went close for the visitors. 

Nevertheless, Manchester City soon found their rhythm in contest and their pressing caused the blaugranes problems. The home side hit the woodwork themselves before Barça had another chance to take the lead with Ewa Pajor's effort cleared off the line by City defender Aleixandri. 

Before half time it was Manchester City who took the lead, Layzell finishing from a corner to beat Cata Coll and give the home side a lead at the break that was not against the run of play. 

Barça reaction 

The blaugranes came out in the second half with intent and Alexia went close to levelling things up. However, that chance came with City once again dominating the game even though Pina and Walsh also had opportunities. 

Just when it seemed the blaugranes were easing themselves back into the game, the hammer blow of a second goal for City came. Shaw finished well for the home side to make it 2-0 with 13 minutes to go, sealing a win for the Manchester club and condemning Barça to defeat with still a long way to go in the 2024/25 Champions League season. 

MATCH STATS 

Manchester City, 2
Barça, 0

Manchester City: Yamashita, Layzell, Aleixandri (Kennedy, min 89), Greenwood, Casparij, Miedema, Hasegawa, Park (Roord, min 79), Fowler (Fujino, min 81), Hemp and Shaw
Barça: Cata Coll, María León, Graham, Alexia (Paredes, min 85), Patri, Aitana (Vicky, min 85), Rolfö (Brugts, min 72), Pajor, Walsh (Kika, min 85), O. Batlle and Engen (Pina, min 64)

Goals: 1-0, Layzell (min 36); 2-0, Shaw (min 77)