Barcelona beat Manchester Metropolis 3-0 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to safe prime spot in Group D of the UEFA Girls’s Champions League.
Either side completed on 15 factors from their six group video games and progressed into the knockout phases, however Pere Romeu’s facet secured the house quarter-final resulting from a greater head-to-head document than Metropolis.
The hosts pressured Khiara Keating into a number of wonderful saves early on, earlier than Claudia Pina gave them the lead proper on the finish of the primary half, latching on to the ball within the field earlier than firing into the nook.
Balon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati doubled Barcelona’s lead early within the second half, poking the ball previous Keating following a superb breakaway.
Substitute Alexia Putellas made it three with an excellent strike from exterior the field, because the reigning champions of the Girls’s Champions League proved simply too good for the English facet.
The Metropolis goalkeeper made a number of stops all through the second half to keep away from an embarrassing scoreline for the guests.
Jill Roord rattled the crossbar from distance through the first half, however that was as shut as Metropolis bought to threatening Catalina Coll’s purpose, as they did not bounce again from their current defeat to Everton within the WSL.
Barcelona now journey to Costa Adeje Tenerife on the weekend within the Copa de la Reina, while Metropolis have a welcomed break till they face Ipswich within the FA Cup on the January 12.
Speaking Level – Imperious Barcelona too good for Metropolis
There’s a cause that Barcelona have received the final two Girls’s Champions Leagues and so they confirmed that kind in opposition to Metropolis tonight. The Spanish facet had been too fast for the guests in every part they did and 3-0 flattered Gareth Taylor’s facet in the long run. Barcelona secured a house quarter-final with victory and can be hoping they will go all the way in which once more within the competitors.
Participant of the Match – Claudia Pina
The Barcelona ahead was in wonderful kind and will have simply had a hat-trick if it wasn’t for the superb Keating. The Spanish star opened the scoring for the hosts on the finish of a irritating first half and brought on chaos all through the second to create house for these round her. The Metropolis defenders couldn’t stay with the tempo and trickery of Pina.
Participant Rankings
Barcelona: Coll 7, Batlle 6, Paredes 7, Mapi Leon 7, Brugts 8, Bonmati 9, Walsh 7, Guijarro 6, Paralluelo 7, Pajor 5, Pina 9*. Subs: Putellas 8, Rolfo 6, Nazareth 6, Lopez N/A, Fernandez N/A.
Manchester Metropolis: Keating 9, Casparij 6, Kennedy 5, Aleixandri 4, Ouahabi 5, Roord 7, Hasegawa 6, Blindkilde Brown 5, Fowler 4, Park 4, Fujino 4. Subs: Murphy 5, Coombs N/A.
Match Highlights
10’ BARCELONA CHANCE! BARCELONA 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY – Metropolis are actually underneath the cosh right here, as Esmee Brugts breaks ahead from left-back and forces a nook. The guests do effectively to clear their traces from the ensuing nook.
24’ MAN CITY CHANCE! BARCELONA 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY – The guests break rapidly in opposition to the run of play and put collectively an incredible transfer, earlier than Jess Park strikes at purpose, however her shot is straight at Catalina Coll.
28’ HUGE BARCELONA CHANCE! – Bonmati nearly scores an excellent purpose for the hosts! The Spanish star steals the ball excessive up the pitch and goes for an audacious try at purpose, making an attempt to chip Keating. Nonetheless, the ball drifts simply large.
37’ CITY STRIKE THE BAR! – Jill Roord hits an excellent effort from far out, which rattles in opposition to the crossbar! That was practically an enormous purpose for Man Metropolis.
45’ BARCELONA GOAL! BARCELONA 1-0 MANCHESTER CITY (PINA) – Barcelona lastly have the breakthrough and it is Claudia Pina together with her fifth purpose of the competitors. The ball bounced off just a few gamers within the Metropolis field earlier than falling to Barca’s No. 9, who made no mistake with the end.
57’ GOAL FOR BARCELONA! BARCELONA 2-0 MANCHESTER CITY (BONMATI) – Barcelona at the moment transfer to the highest of Group D! Bonmati is performed in by Pajor and breaks away from the Metropolis defence, earlier than poking the ball via the legs of Keating. The reigning champions have been wonderful.
69’ BARCELONA GOAL! BARCELONA 3-0 MANCHESTER CITY (PUTELLAS) – This has been a masterclass from Barcelona and so they all however safe the highest spot in Group D. Simply after approaching, Alexia Putellas picks up the ball on the sting of the field and strikes the ball into the again of the web, leaving Keating stranded.
Key Stat
Barcelona had a whopping 30 photographs on purpose all through the match, in comparison with Metropolis’s three. Dominance.