Manchester City sent a powerful message about their potential to make a deep run in this season's Women’s Champions League by stunning the reigning champions, Barcelona, with a world-class performance in their opening group-stage match. On a night where the technical quality of both teams' play was a delight to watch, goals from Naomi Layzell and Khadija Shaw secured a memorable victory for the English side, marking one of the greatest moments in the club's history.
After three consecutive seasons of either failing to advance through the qualifying rounds or missing out on a European spot entirely, this was Manchester City's first appearance in the group stages of the competition since the format was changed to include groups in 2021. Captain Alex Greenwood had stated on Tuesday that her team belonged in this stage, and this performance certainly validated that claim.
Having waited so long to return to the pinnacle of European women's football, the challenge of facing the team that had won the title in each of the past two seasons and reached five of the past six European finals seemed daunting. However, Manchester City, instead of being intimidated, came out with a point to prove. They set the tone from the very first minute, pressing Barcelona's defense so intensely that the visitors conceded a throw-in immediately.
The release of the starting lineups had already caused a stir among the media before the game, with all of Barcelona's star players starting. Aitana Bonmatí, the Ballon d’Or winner, Alexia Putellas, the Queen of Spanish football, and Keira Walsh, the England midfield maestro, were all on the field. By including Bonmatí, Walsh, Sweden's wing-back Fridolina Rolfö, Norway's lethal winger Caroline Graham Hansen, and center-back Mapi León, Barcelona had five of the top eight players from 2023’s Guardian 'top 100' women’s footballers in their starting XI. The odds seemed stacked against Manchester City.
It was thus a surprising twist when a 20-year-old England youth international, making only her second Champions League appearance following a summer transfer from Bristol City, scored the opening goal. Layzell, who looked as surprised as everyone else, bundled the ball home from a corner. This was the first goal of her senior career, and it came in a match of significant importance.
Thrown into the team for the biggest night of her career so far, Layzell was tasked with marking the former Ballon d’Or winner Putellas and keeping an eye on Rolfö's overlapping runs down Barcelona's left flank. She started nervously, making a couple of errors in the first three minutes, but she soon settled in, contributing to a first half that was a joy to watch.
The quality of football from both teams surpassed what the Joie Stadium had seen in recent years, despite being sold out. Although Barcelona's possession was disrupted by Manchester City's relentless work rate, their threats were still evident. A post and a stunning goal-line clearance from Laia Aleixandri kept the score close.
In the second half, Vivianne Miedema had a chance to double the lead with a free header, but her effort went wide. As Barcelona began to test Manchester City's resolve with their trademark passing game, it seemed an equalizer was imminent. However, Shaw delivered a decisive blow, winning the ball from a Layzell pass and scoring, sparking jubilation in the stands and sending a clear message to the rest of European women's football.
