Manchester City has finally put an end to their disappointing run in Europe's premier club competition by securing a comprehensive 8-0 aggregate win over French side Paris FC in the qualifying rounds. This victory marks their return to the Women's Champions League group stages for the first time since the competition's format was altered to include round-robin groups.
Gareth Taylor's confident squad, which was absent from European competition last season, had previously been eliminated by Real Madrid in the qualifying rounds of the two consecutive campaigns before that. They will now compete in the last-16 stage of the competition for the first time since the 2020-21 season, when the knockout format was still in place, and will aim to advance far in the tournament based on their impressive performance against Paris FC.
Khadija Shaw contributed two goals to Manchester City's second-leg 3-0 victory on a frigid evening. Just before kick-off, the crowd was startled by the sound of a siren and an announcement instructing everyone to evacuate Joie Stadium, causing fans to head for the exits. However, it quickly became apparent that the alarm was a false one. A fire alarm had been accidentally triggered, and within a minute, spectators were told to return to their seats. The players were already in the tunnel, prepared to take the field, but fortunately, the start of the game was only delayed by four minutes.
Any concerns Manchester City fans might have had about a potential Paris FC comeback were swiftly dispelled. Chloe Kelly capitalized on some sloppy defending to score at the back post, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead on the night and a 6-0 aggregate lead within the first two minutes. Manchester City's qualification already seemed assured after their commanding first-leg win in France, and this goal solidified that certainty.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, Shaw scored the second goal of the night, slotting in from Kelly's well-timed low cross. For Shaw, who was unable to travel to the first leg due to Manchester City's failure to secure her visa in time, this was her first goal of the season. The Jamaica striker aims to build on last season's performance, where she won the Women's Super League's Golden Boot.
City dominated the tie from the outset of the first leg, which was a contrast to Paris FC's impressive European run last season. Paris FC had secured shock victories over Arsenal and Wolfsburg during qualifying and then defeated Real Madrid twice in the group stage. They were considered potentially challenging opponents for City, who have a history of falling short in the qualifying rounds.
A reminder of the difficulty of qualifying for the group stages came in the French capital during one of Thursday's early-evening kick-offs, where Paris Saint-Germain was unexpectedly eliminated by Juventus. England goalkeeper Mary Earps joined PSG on a free transfer from Manchester United this summer, eager to compete in Europe's top club competition and challenge for trophies. However, PSG, who reached the Champions League semi-finals last season, were defeated 5-2 on aggregate.
Such a shock was never really on the cards for Manchester City, especially after Vivianne Miedema opened the scoring in the first leg in Paris. The Netherlands striker, along with other first-choice starters including Lauren Hemp, was rested on Thursday. Despite some rotation, Taylor's team maintained full control of possession.
Shaw scored her second goal from the penalty spot in the second half after being tripped inside the box. Chiamaka Nnadozie managed to get a touch on Shaw's penalty but couldn't keep it out. In frustration, the Nigeria goalkeeper kicked the ball high into the stands and was booked for her actions.
This prompted Manchester City's fans to celebrate the prospect of advancing towards May's final in Lisbon, as they sang, "We're all going on a European tour." They will discover their group-stage opponents in Friday's draw, eager to rekindle the form that saw them reach back-to-back semi-finals in 2017 and 2018.
