Thank you for joining me for this match. Barcelona show why they are defending champions with an utterly stunning and dominant 3-0 win over Manchester City. A lack of squad depth and being outplayed meant the English club relented their spot at group winners and their flawless win in the competition. But they are through to the quarters and in the running for the trophy. For all the action have a read of Tom Garry’s report below. That is my final live blog of 2024 so thank you all for reading along with me this year. Have a great Christmas and I will see you in 2025.
Arsenal vs Bayern Munich will kick-off at 8pm GMT, make sure you keep an eye out for our match report which will bring you all of the news from the top-of-the-group decider.
The other two clubs in Group D kicked off at 5.45pm GMT too. Hammarby came away with a 2-1 win over St Polten with Cathinka Tandberg and Julie Blakstad scoring. Kamila Dubcova scored the consolation for St Polten.
The draw for the quarter-finals and semi-finals will take place on 7 February. All eight teams have already qualified for the quarters with Man City, Barca, Wolfsburg, Lyon, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Bayern Munich progressing.
Of course City will be disappointed with that loss, especially as it comes after they lost 2-1 to Everton in the WSL last weekend so they go into the Christmas break with back-to-back defeats, but the consolation for them is they are already through to the last eight.
Full time: Barcelona 3-0 Man City
Barcelona top Group D after a dominant 3-0 win over Manchester City. Claudia Pina broke the deadlock just before half-time and Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas added goals to ensure they topped the group. City proved Barca are not invincible with their win over them earlier this season but this game highlighted their ruthless nature when they need to employ it. They remain firm favourites for the title.
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90 + 3 min: Wow, Lopez has her hands on her heads as she knows she should have turned that in. Rolfo passes a peach of a ball to her but the resulting effort is over the bar. Putellas is the next to have a shot but it’s wide.
90 + 1 min: There will be four minutes added.
90 min: This result will not only move City to second in the group but it will end their perfect Champions League run so far this season. They had won five from five until now. They look to get back into this one with City in the box but Coll makes a great save on a Murphy shot.
88 min: Tonight just isn’t Pajor’s night is it? She has had so many chances but she just can’t turn it in with her latest chance is over the bar. Barca make another change with Lopez on for Bonmati.
86 min: City get into the area and Murphy was strongly challenge by Leon, City wanted a penalty but it isn’t given. On the replay it looked as though the decision could have gone either way and there is no VAR in operation.
84 min: Pajor is judged offside as Barca try to peel forward once again. I think those calls from the officials tonight have been inch-perfect, really great work from the assistant referees.
83 min: 29,007 fans are in tonight, a great crowd for a great game.
82 min: Some good attacking play from City with Murphy finding Fujino who wins a corner. Before it can be taken Coombs is brought on for Park. The corner delivery is good but Coll reads it perfectly to pluck it out of the air.
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81 min: Right back to some match action, which has seen Barca hold on to the ball and running the clock down in the past few minutes, and the hosts are passing between their defenders. They slowly work it through the team but a long pass forward is mopped up by City.
79 min: A top spot in the group doessecure you an ‘easier’ ride in the quarters as you are drawn against a team who finished runner-up in their group. But the competition in the tournament this season is so high I don’t think there is an easy opponent. Chelsea and Lyon have topped their group and Barca look as though they will too. Arsenal and Bayern Munich battle at 8pm GMT to decide the final group winner.
77 min: It is honestly just a joy to watch Barcelona play football, it’s just utterly stunning. That last cross less so but only because Pajor did not have any teammates in the box.
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75 min: A poor decision from Park there as she tries to find Murphy but she was in an offside position so she didn’t pick it up and Barca are able to clear. City just have not been able to get any foothold in this match. Barca make more changes with Walshand Paralluelo for Rolfo and Nazareth.
73 min: Patri spots Keating off of her line and tries a long effort to try and lob the keeper but she reads it well to collect.
71 min: The crowd are now chanting “Alexia, Alexia” and no wonder after that goal. This could become an embarrassing result if City can’t stop the goals.
Just before her goal, Putellas had lofted a ball into the area which City scrambled clear. Park then lost out and Putellas hit an effort from outside the box, Keating didn’t even move and the Barca legend ran away celebrating. What a player.
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GOAL! Barcelona 3-0 Man City (Putellas, 69)
She has only just come on. Elite.
68 min: Barca make their first change with Pina off for Putellas, City’s evening does not get any easier – just a two-time Ballon d’Or winner joining the game.
66 min: Wow that should have been the third goal from Bonmati. It came to her in front of an almost open goal but her effort hits the crossbar and bounces back out.
65 min: Ouahabi passes a loose ball to Keating and the goalkeeper’s only choice it to pelt it into the stands which only gifts a great opportunity to Barca. The hosts work it into the box but Ouahabi clears.
63 min: Since the second goal has gone in, while Barca are still creating chances, they are taking more time on the ball and building more patience in their attacks. Some game management slightly coming into it already as they know they have done enough to top the group now as long as they do not concede.
61 min: City make their first change of the evening with Murphy on for Blindkilde Brown, a young exciting academy product enters the fray.
59 min: Remember now Barcelona have scored two goals they leapfrog City to top of the group. City now have to score if they want to finish top, a tall order with the limited chances they have had.
As soon as she timed her run perfectly and went racing towards goal I said outloud “she is going to score”. Ouahabi got back well but the star girl nutmegged Keating to score.
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GOAL! Barcelona 2-0 Man City (Bonmati, 57)
There it is.
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57 min: Oh hello, could City be in here? No. Fowler finds Fujino but she is judged offside.
56 min: Fowler, who is doing a lot of work on and off the ball in this fixture, does well to dispossess Pina in the box but it isn’t long before the Spanish side win possession once more. The goalscorer Pina takes another punt but Keating saves.
54 min: Pajor wanted a free kick there after a strong tackle from Aleixandri but it is play on. City have been able to disrupt the hosts’ flow a little more in the past few minutes.
52 min: The Barca fans boo as the treatment takes a little while but I think she is okay to continue. Yes, she is back to her feet.
51 min: Keating is down here and this time it looks like she in in some pain. The goalkeeper came out of the area to clear a poor backpass and she is clattered by Pajor.
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50 min: Bonmati has some great footwork (when doesn’t she?) to find Pajor but Keating makes another good save and concedes a corner. Leon delivers well but the effort from Walsh is wide.
49 min: Wow, Pajor was an inch away from scoring there. A storming run from Paralluelo saw her pop in a cross and it just evades the Polish international.
47 min: Barca start so quickly, 20 seconds into the second half and Pina has a shot on target. Keating saves but my word they want to get the job done here.
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Back underway: Barcelona 1-0 Man City
Here we go then. City need to score one more goal and not concede to top the group or City will remain top.
Have a read of our latest weekly women’s football newsletter, Moving the Goalposts:
Barca’s Esmee Brugts said before heading into the dressing room: “This is football, sometimes you need a little bit of luck. I think we are dominating. They didn’t know what to do after 15 minutes and the goalkeeper sat down which is a compliment for us.”
Half-time: Barcelona 1-0 Man City
Well City’s defence had been largely impressive under the huge pressure Barcelona were putting them under but it eventually cracked from a beautiful Claudia Pina stike. City have looked dangerous at times though with Jill Roord coming closest. As things stand City still top the group.
45 + 1 min: There will be two minutes added, I was expecting a lot more.
The move started with some beautiful football from Brugts. She passed to Bonmati who couldn’t control but it fortunately bounced to Pina who smashed it. Great goal.
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GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Man City (Pina, 44')
That has been coming.
43 min: The ball keeps finding Pajor in the box but she can’t execute her shots effectively just yet as another attempt is saved by Keating.
41 min: Keating. That is the post. She has had a great time when faced with shots from Barca, I really thought Pajor was going to score that after she timed her run so well. Keating pushed it behind for a corner. The delivery is poor and Fowler clears.
39 min: Every time Keating is one the ball she is booed by the crowd after the tactical injury timeout she took earlier in the game. The referee did walk over to her at the time to tell her it will be added on at the end of the half so I’m preparing for at least three or four minutes injury time.
37 min: It won’t surprise you when I tell you that Barca have had the lions share of possession in the past few minutes but City’s defence have been resolute and they are now enjoying some frontfoot ball. Fujino gets it in the box but Paredes clears, it comes to Roord and she rattles the crossbar. Wow, that is the closest City have come.
35 min: Barca opt for a short corner again, they aren’t very effective and Roord clears it. Barca’s set pieces have not been the best in this match so far.
34 min: Barca take the corner short but eventually it comes into the area, initially cleared by Fowler but it comes to Brugts who launces a powerful strike and Keating makes an amazing save once again. It does go behind for a corner.
32 min: The longer City keep Barca out the happier they will be. Even if the English club lose 1-0 tonight they will stay top of the group as when the top two have the same amount of points it comes down to the goal difference in the fixtures they play against each other, City beat Barca 2-0 in the reverse fixture in October. Back to action and Barca are attacking once again and they win a corner.
31 min: Walsh is fouled by Roord and so Barca have a free kick. Pina delivers the ball and Pajor tries to keep it alive but it goes out for a goal kick.
29 min: Keating can thank her lucky stars that went wide. The goalkeeper had a sloppy pass and was out of position as Bonmati launched a ball goalwards but it bounces just left of goal.
27 min: How, how, how have Barca not scored there? Bonmati and Brugts had two really good chances but City hanging on for dear life as they manage to clumsily clear.
25 min: City have their first promising attack and they show a glimpse of the danger they have in their ranks. There was a great break and Park was found in a good position but her effort is easily saved by Coll.
24 min: Keating makes a great decision as an excellent long balls finds the perfectly timed run of Pajor but the goalkeeper came out to kick it clear.
23 min: Batlle wins a free kick after a foul from Aleixandri on the halfway line. They work it through the team into a good position but Walsh coughs up possession.
21 min: Breaking news, City have passed the ball in their attacking half. It lasts two or three passes and Barca hem them back to where they want to play again.
20 min: Keating is fine to continue, Barca looked like they had a word with the officials during that break as they want to keep their momentum flowing. The boos only got louder the longer the break in play took.
18 min: I don’t think I have seen City touch the ball in their own half, that is how dominant Barca have been so far. And despite getting a few shots clear, City will be happy to have kept the defending champions at bay. Boos rain down from the stands as Keating goes down and is in need of attention – this might be a tactical move.
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16 min: I have just noticed Kennedy’s black eye and on social media a lot of City fans are questioning how she got the shiner. It must have been during training, it looks quite painful.
14 min: Paralluelo is just a cheat code isn’t she? She manages to wrestle the ball back despite being surrounded by City defenders. Many passes later Hasegawa wins it back to clear. The pressure is really cranking up though.
12 min: If I had just won the FIFA Best award for the second year running I too would have attempted that long range shot. However, this time Bonmati’s effort is collected by Keating.
10 min: A lovely ball finds Brugts and her pace creates pockets of space in City’s defence but Ouahabi does excellently to see it out for a corner. The set piece once again comes to nothing but the defending champions are firmly knocking on the door.
8 min: The delivery from Leon isn’t the best and City clear it. It isn’t long before Barca are back on the attack though and Paralluelo, who is starting her first match this season for Barca, has a shot but it is an easy save for Keating. This feels as though it is going to be a long evening for City’s defence.
8 min: Barcelona win another corner as Kennedy sees out a Bonmati cross, Kennedy having a good game so far. The delivery is excellent and Pajor gets a head to it but Keating makes a fabulous save to keep them out. She sees it over the bar for another corner.
6 min: The first corner delivery is sent straight out for another set piece. The second delivery is good and City struggle to get it clear but eventually Australia international Kennedy pings it away from a danger area.
5 min: An error from Keating gives Barca a chance in the final third, the ball comes to Paralluelo who takes a punt but Keating makes up for her mistake with a fine save. She does concede a corner though.
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4 min: A lot of possession exchanging hands in the midfield so far so there is not a lot to report from the past few minutes. Neither side looking brighter than the other.
2 min: There is a great crowd in the stands full of Barca fans willing their side to beat City by two goals or more to top the group but there are a few chants of ‘come on City’ that can be heard. Both teams finding their feet so far.
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Kick-off! Barcelona 0-0 Man City
Here we go.
The players will out shortly before the Women’s Champions League song is blared out in Barcelona. Can Barca top the group? Or will City see out an unbeaten group stage? All to come.
Read up on all the action from yesterday’s game where Chelsea topped their group:
Wondering how the WSL clubs are ranking now we’ve hit the Christmas break? Fear not. Our very own Suzy Wrack and Tom Garry have shared their opinions. Read it here:
I’d love to hear from you and as this is the last Women’s Champions League action before Christmas it seems fitting to have a festive theme. So any Xmas fun facts or puns are welcome. Mine to share with you is that Noel means birth, I learned that at a pub quiz yesterday. You can get in touch via email: sarah.rendell.casual@guardian.co.uk.
Gareth Taylor said of tonight’s opposition: “I’ve played Barca three times in my time as head coach and been fortunate in the outcome of two of those games but they’ve been different players in those games and what Barca have done in the past few years. I want us to be there, and we have a long way to go. We proved on a special night for us that we can compete and beat one of the best in a long time but the challenge is small steps.”
Barcelona manager Pere Romeu has said his side are ready to fight for the win this evening: “The team wants to play matches like this. The players thrive in these settings and will come out to bite hard from minute one. We hope to have the optimal motivation to face this match.”
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmati won the FIFA Best award on Tuesday, read more about it here:
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While City are second in the WSL, Barcelona are dominating Liga F. The Spanish giants are currently 11 points clear of second Real Madrid with 13 wins from 13 games so far this season. It’s not surprising with the amount of talent in their squad, including the FIFA Best winner…
Manchester City are currently without top scorer Bunny Shaw, Lauren Hemp, Alex Greenwood and Vivianne Miedema and that is just the tip of the iceberg of their injury crisis. This, along with great tactics from Everton, led to City losing 2-1 to the Liverpudlian club last weekend. The defeat meant they could not capitalise on Chelsea dropping points to Leicester. City currently trail leaders Chelsea by six points in the WSL
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The team news is here. Barcelona’s line-up shows their strength in depth with the stars on the bench. Alexia Putellas, who is returning to full fitness, and Caroline Graham Hansen are among the substitutes.
Barca: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Brugts, Bonmati, Walsh, Patri, Paralluelo, Pajor, Pina
Subs: Gemma, Roebuck, Jana, Marta, Graham Hansen, Putellas, Rolfo, Nazareth, Vicky, Martina, Engen, Cano
City, meanwhile, have a strong line-up despite their extensive injury list. Notably it is Khiara Keating who starts in goal.
City: Keating, Aleixandri (C), Fowler, Roord, Kennedy, Ouahabi, Park, Casparij, Blindkilde Brown, Fujino, Hasegawa
Subs: Yamashita, Startup, Layzell, Coombs, Prior, Thomas, Murphy, O’Carroll
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to our Women’s Champions League coverage. Tonight we are focusing on Barcelona v Manchester City and the two clubs are vying to finish top of their group.
Both sides have already qualified for the quarter-finals but top spot in Group D is still up for grabs. City are currently top but if Barcelona beat them by two goals or more they will leapfrog them.
In the reverse fixture, City outplayed the defending champions and recorded a 2-0 victory. However, the English club are suffering through an injury crisis which has impacted their form.
We will take a closer look at who is missing for City and what has been said in the build-up to the match shortly but the team news has been announced so stay tuned for updates before kick-off at 5.45pm GMT.
