Title holders Barcelona were beaten 2-0 by Manchester City on Wednesday to start their defence in the Women’s Champions League with a rare loss in the group stage.
Man City outplayed the two-time defending champions in the first half, taking a 36th-minute lead when Naomi Layzell was brave at a corner, and had to repel waves of Barcelona attacks before sealing the win.
Jamaica forward Bunny Shaw ran clear in the 77th and rounded goalkeeper Cata Coll, before calmly placing her shot behind a covering defender on the goalline.
Man City’s performance outshined even that of Bayern Munich and Pernille Harder, who scored a 13-minute hat trick late in a 5-2 win over Arsenal.
Also Wednesday, Hammarby beat St. Pölten 2-0 in the same group as Man City and Barcelona, and Juventus won 1-0 in Norway against Vålerenga in Group C.
Barcelona had lost just once in 18 group-stage games in three previous editions of this Women’s Champions League format, which will change after this season.
The Spanish team’s stellar lineup was hustled out of its rhythm early by Man City, who struck a post in the 16th from Lauren Hemp’s shot at the end of a slick move.
Man City led from a corner forced by Coll’s…
