Manchester City take on FC Barcelona in their Women’s Champions League group stage opener in what we be a difficult and testing encounter against the reigning champions.
Gareth Taylor’s side came through qualifying to reach this stage of the tournament and impressed with a superb 8-0 aggregate win over Paris FC. They won the first leg 5-0 away from home with Vivianne Mediema, Jess Park, Mary Fowler and Chloe Kelly all on the scoresheet before an equally comfortable 3-0 victory at the Joie Stadium back in September.
City have been drawn against Barca, Swedish side Hammarby and Austria’s St Polten in Group D, with the most demanding of those fixtures first up. A win against Barcelona will put them in pole position to qualify for the knockout rounds. But it won’t be easy, Barcelona have made an incredible start to their domestic campaign, with five wins and 25 goals across their first five games meaning things will be tough for City tonight.
Follow all the Women’s Champions League action with our live blog below:
45’ – Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
Three minutes added on at the end of the first half – the Gunners couldn’t quite get to the break with the lead intact.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:33
GOAL! 42’ – Bayern 1-1 Arsenal
First chance for the hosts – good save from Zinsberger! A slip by McCabe and Gwinn is in, firing in a shot which is high and hard…and beaten away by the keeper.
Promising for Bayern – and as the ball comes back into the box by Stanway, Glodis Perla Viggosdottir is still up from the set piece and she leaps to divert a header over Zinsberger and into the far corner off the post!
All square again before the break.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:31
40’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Five minutes to the break and Arsenal just now sitting off a little for the first time – more possession and time on the ball now for Stanway and Co. Can they fashion something before the interval? It has been very low-key from them so far.
Yellow card now for Codina for dragging down Harder as she looked to race onto a long ball over the top – perhaps unnecessary, but Arsenal clear the freekick so no immediate damage done.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:28
36’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Walti so far winning the battle with Stanway and Zadrazil to protect Arsenal’s back line from the runners from deep – Bayern really haven’t created anything in this half or managed any kind of sustained pressure.
Jonas Eidevall will be delighted at this much-improved showing from the weekend.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:24
32’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Bayern now trying to get themselves back into the game and DAZN have thankfully sorted out their sound issues after overlaying a totally different game for the last few minutes.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:22
GOAL! 28’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal are ahead! Caldentey with the opening goal, a fine move down the left and McCabe’s cross is met by a first-time, side-footed volley from the Spaniard and it flies past Grohs for 1-0!
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:18
24’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
An injury concern now for Giulia Gwinn, who gets a bit of an ankle twist in a midfield challenge. Just over midway through this first half – Arsenal with more possession and a couple of shots more than Bayern so far in what has been a positive start.
Slightly timid from both perhaps, but plenty of time to work their way into this game and competition. Gwinn looks set to continue.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:15
20’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Maanum maybe considers a shot as the ball rolls across the edge of the box, but opts out and the opening is gone. Blackstenius does well to work hard and win the corner – the Gunners on top in the last few minutes. Can they make it count though?
McCabe takes it, it’s not actually a good one and should be cleared near post but is totally missed – and it bounces just in front of the line, with no black shirt on hand to poke it over and in for the opening goal. An escape for Bayern.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:08
16’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Stanway loses out in midfield and Arsenal try to overload on the counter, but one loose pass and Bayern have it back. Buhl is all alone in attack though and it’s coming straight back at the hosts; McCabe takes on two, leaves Lohmann on the ground and … scuffs a shot wide of the near post.
Good build-up, lacking in execution though.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:05
12’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
Simon fouls Mariona Caldentey and it’s a chance for the Gunners to deliver some quality into the box. Maanum and McCabe over the set piece…it’s the latter, and it’s reached by Codina, but a toepoke towards goal doesn’t have enough power to trouble the keeper and Grohs saves again.
Karl Matchett9 October 2024 18:01