Full-Time: Barcelona 3, Manchester City 0 in UEFA Women’s Champions League

Gareth Taylor, the manager of Manchester City, candidly referred to his team as “a little bit dysfunctional” following their defeat to Barcelona in the Women’s Champions League.

The reigning champions from Barcelona showcased their dominance, securing a vital victory at the Olympic Stadium that ensures they finish atop Group D.

An inspired performance from City’s goalkeeper, Khiara Keating, kept the hosts at bay until the dying moments of the first half. It was in the 44th minute that Claudia Pina hammered the ball into the bottom corner following a chaotic sequence in the box.

With Barcelona needing a two-goal margin to secure their preferred position in Group D after suffering a 2-0 defeat in Manchester last month, they intensified their efforts. The second goal arrived early in the second half when Aitana Bonmati evaded Leila Ouahabi and dispatched a clinical finish beneath Keating.

The third and final nail in the coffin came in the 69th minute, when the ever-reliable substitute, Alexia Putellas, struck a low shot from distance that left Keating with no chance.

In his post-match reflections, Taylor commended the commitment of his players while acknowledging the defeat as a setback, but insisted it would not derail their ambitions. “We know we weren’t functioning and effective in certain areas with and without the ball, but you couldn’t fault the effort of the players,” he commented.

“This game won’t define us. We’ll learn, get better, get players back, start to get stronger and will improve,” he added, emphasizing a forward-thinking approach.

“We were a little bit dysfunctional with and without the ball tonight, but the effort from the girls was first class.”

Both teams were already assured of progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, wrapping up their respective campaigns in style with identical tallies of 15 points, but Barcelona emerged victorious in the group standings.

The Catalan club enhanced their goal difference to an emphatic +23, while City finished at a respectable +5.

This defeat marks the second consecutive loss for City, having also fallen to Everton just days earlier, which now places them second in Group D and potentially facing a more challenging draw in the knockout phase.

City’s triumphant start to their Women’s Champions League group stage campaign was marked by a stunning victory over Barcelona at Joie Stadium. However, the landscape has dramatically shifted since that fateful night. Barça have been on a relentless winning streak, taking all 12 matches across competitions, while City have battled with a string of injuries and inconsistent form.

With key players missing, such as Khadija Shaw, Alex Greenwood, Vivianne Miedema, and Lauren Hemp, manager Taylor could only name eight substitutes in Spain, including two goalkeepers and three teenagers, a testament to his side’s misfortunes.

The wounded lions of Barcelona were quick to recognize the opportunity, spearheaded by a forward-thinking tactical deployment that saw Esmee Brugts occupy an unconventional left-back role. Aitana Bonmati, reflecting on the match, admitted the desire for revenge was palpable. “We had a thorn in our side from the first game against City,” she conceded.

“That one came a little bit too soon for us; we weren’t ourselves that day, I honestly think that City were superior. So we came into this game absolutely determined to show who we are and to put that right.”

What followed was a display of sheer dominance, with the hosts controlling a staggering 75% of possession and unleashing 30 shots on goal.

City did manage to pose a couple of threats, recalling Chelsea’s semi-final heroics from the previous season, where Barcelona were caught off-guard. One particular moment of terror for the Catalan side came when Jill Roord’s long-range strike struck the crossbar in the 37th minute.

Nonetheless, Barcelona’s quality shone through as they surged ahead with Bonmati’s goal, compelling Taylor to bring on 18-year-old Lily Murphy as his side sought reactions.

In stark contrast, Barcelona’s Pere Romeu had the luxury of deploying two-time Ballon d’Or winner Putellas, further underlining the depth and competition within the squad.

For Taylor, the one silver lining to emerge from this encounter may be the timing; it was City’s final game of 2024 before they enter the winter break in the WSL.

Manager Taylor opted for an unchanged City lineup that had previously faced Everton, but it was the performance of Keating that stood out. The talented keeper has endured a season of ups and downs, sharing game time with Ayaka Yamashita while observing as Mary Earps and Hannah Hampton contend for the England spot.

However, Keating’s heroics on this occasion were pivotal, as she pulled off a staggering 14 saves to keep City from utter embarrassment.

“She’s been ready and available and that’s all you can be as a keeper,” commented Taylor on Keating’s performances.

“She was outstanding tonight, showed a lot of personality and a lot of maturity for someone so young on the biggest stage.”

Keating’s busy evening commenced in the fourth minute with a smart save from Salma Paralluelo’s strike. She went on to tip a fierce effort from Brugts over the crossbar and denied Ewa Pajor multiple times with top-drawer stops.

Even when Pina finally broke the deadlock a minute before halftime, Keating quickly regrouped and showcased her skills again just moments into the second half with a fine save.

That said, her distribution faltered on several occasions, inviting danger as Bonmati nearly caught her out with an audacious lob after a misplaced pass. Fortunately for Keating, the attempt drifted wide.

Ultimately, Keating’s remarkable performance was crucial in limiting the scoreline against a Barcelona side that had netted a staggering 26 goals in their six group games.