UWCL PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Manchester City

This evening at 6.45pm CET, FC Barcelona host Manchester City in the final game of the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage. And it's going to be a special occasion because not only is top spot in the group at stake, but rather than the Estadi Johan Cruyff, this one is being played at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, where the men's team have been playing games while Spotify Camp Nou is being redeveloped.

A huge crowd is expected, and with Christmas just around the corner, there is also going to be a festive mood to the evening, with music and games in the build-up and at half-time.

How it stands

Both teams won home and away against the other two teams in the group, Hammarby (Sweden) and St. Pölten (Austria), but while City generally won by modest scorelines, Barça's games included 7-0 and 9-0 routs. The game-changer was the match between the two teams in Manchester, which the English side won 2-0, the only time Barça have lost in any competition this season.

So City go into this final game with a 3-point lead. Barça can match them on 15 points by winning today, but the tie-breaker is the head-to-head between the two teams. That means Barça have to win by two clear goals or more.

Qualification is not an issue. The top two teams advance to the quarter finals. But topping the group is an important matter because it ensures a theoretically gentler route through the knockout stages, including playing the second leg of the quarter final at home.

Man City

Managed by former Wales international Gareth Taylor, Manchester City are currently second behind Chelsea in the Women's Super League. Two defeats in their last three games, against leaders Chelsea themselves and also Everton mean the gap has opened up to six points.

This is the second time that Barça have met Man City in the UWCL. In 2021 they played in the quarter finals, with City also winning on home soil, but Barça eventually progressing thanks to a 3-0 win in Catalonia.

Barça

Defending European champions Barça are top of the Liga F with a 100 per cent record so far. Manager Pere Romeu has welcomed all of Roebuck, Walsh, Martina and Alexia back to training although it has yet to confirmed whether any of them are fit to play today. Caroline Graham Hansen, who was substituted shortly after coming on against Valencia at the weekend is a doubt until the very last minute.

In that game at Mestalla, Barça rested a number of big names ahead of the European clash and came worryingly close to dropping points for the first time this season, eventually winning 1-0 thanks to a penalty.