Manchester City and FC Barcelona both qualified for the quarter-finals already but the top spot in the group was still up for grabs. FC Barcelona had to win by two goals or more to secure it. The Spanish club is the current holder of the Women’s Champions League but City managed to defeat them at home. The match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys went totally different. Read about in our Match report on FC Barcelona vs Manchester City.
Right from the start: Incredible Pressure and Control
FC Barcelona had a strong start to the game. Within four minutes Paralluelo had a big chance but Keating tipped it wide. It earned the Spanish club the first corner of the match. City had trouble getting away from the pressure. The first corner led to a second before Kennedy could clear it.
Kennedy was important again only minutes later when Aitana Bonmatí received the ball in the box. The block prevented her to find a teammate, it did earn them another corner. This time the delivery was good. Pajor’s header went straight through the middle, towards Keating, who made a great save.
Keeping the game on City’s half
Barcelona’s press was so high that they pushed City all the way back to their own box. The visitors were overwhelmed in the first ten minutes, but this type of pressure would not last the whole match. FC Barcelona was clearly looking for an early lead as they needed a win by 2 goals or more.
The next Barcelona attack was when Brugts was sent away. Her pass over the ground was luckily blocked by Aleixandri but extremely dangerous. City tried to play out from the back instead of just clearing the ball by kicking it to the halfway line. Everytime they had the ball, FC Barcelona players were swarming around it, not allowing City to get of their own half.
Gareth Taylor’s side unable to control quick passing from Barcelona
The first shot on goal for City was after 24 minutes. Blindkilde Brown charged down the left and finds Jess Park running towards the box. Her delivery is good enough for Park to take it with her to the edge of the box and pull the trigger. It’s straight at Cata Coll, who catches it but it’s a good change for the visitors.
Minutes later Aitana Bonmatí tried to take advantage from Keating being way out of her goal, while trying to help her team. Bonmatí’s effort went wide. Even though the goalkeeper might have made a mistake there, she was extremely important throughout the match. She kept her team in the game.
Manchester City had a few good moments at the end of the first half. It was Jill Roord’s long distance effort that rattled the cross bar. These moments are not enough against a club like Barcelona.
Opening the score just before half time
Brugts sends Ewa Pajor away between City’s lines. She outruns Kennedy and goes for the far corner. Keating saw right through it and made another important save. Before the goalkeeper knew it the opponent was in her box again, aiming for goal. It was then when Barcelona finally scored the opening goal after 43 minutes of play. Brugts tried to find Bonmatí, who could not control the ball. It fell before Pina in the box, who did not hesitate and put it in the back of the net.
Nothing changes in the second-half
The second half starts exactly like the first: FC Barcelona with a good chance within 20 seconds and keeps haunting the City defense in their box. Gareth Taylor’s side is unable to get any grip on the match. After ten minutes of play Bonmatí doubles the FC Barcelona lead through the legs of Khiara Keating. The goalkeeper can only save so many.
Taylor made his first change: Murphy on for Blindkilde Brown. The statistics showed that after more than an hour of play FC Barcelona had 15 attempts on target vs Manchester City with 1. The home team did not take off the pressure and bring Putellas on with 24 minutes of regular time left. She immediately does what she does best: score the 3-0. Keating thought the shot would go wide and did not even move.
FC Barcelona take the number one spot
The next ten minutes it’s still all Barcelona. The Spanish club is looking for more ways to score but you can see the high pressure is taking their toll after 80 minutes. Still they keep City at bay and out of their 18-yard box.
Last good spell from City: Right at the end of the match Murphy and Coombs managed to create some danger for the visitors. Cata Coll had to make a save when Ouahabi tried for goal.
The home team needed a win by 2 goals or more and that they did. In theory this means they have an easier path to the next round. However, if we look at who made it to the quarter-finals, no opponent will be easy.
- Barcelona created 32 chances and completed 696 passes.
- City completed 189 passes.
- Khiara Keating has made 15 saves.
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