Barcelona dismantle Man City to top group

Barcelona beat Manchester Metropolis 3-0 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys to safe high spot in Group D of the UEFA Ladies’s Champions League.

Each side completed on 15 factors from their six group video games and progressed into the knockout levels, however Pere Romeu’s facet secured the house quarter-final as a result of 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 wonderful breakaway.

Substitute Alexia Putellas made it three with an excellent strike from exterior the field, because the reigning champions of the Ladies’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 acquired to threatening Catalina Coll’s aim, as they did not bounce again from their latest 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.

There’s a purpose that Barcelona have gained the final two Ladies’s Champions Leagues they usually confirmed that kind in opposition to Metropolis tonight. The Spanish facet had been too fast for the guests in all the things they did and 3-0 flattered Gareth Taylor’s facet ultimately. Barcelona secured a house quarter-final with victory and might be hoping they will go all the best way once more within the competitors.

The Barcelona ahead was in wonderful kind and will have simply had a hat-trick if it wasn’t for the wonderful Keating. The Spanish star opened the scoring for the hosts on the finish of a irritating first half and precipitated chaos all through the second to create area for these round her. The Metropolis defenders couldn’t dwell with the tempo and trickery of Pina.

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.

10’ BARCELONA CHANCE! BARCELONA 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY – Metropolis are actually below the cosh right here, as Esmee Brugts breaks ahead from left-back and forces a nook. The guests do nicely to clear their strains from the ensuing nook.

24’ MAN CITY CHANCE! BARCELONA 0-0 MANCHESTER CITY – The guests break shortly in opposition to the run of play and put collectively a terrific transfer, earlier than Jess Park strikes at aim, however her shot is straight at Catalina Coll.

28’ HUGE BARCELONA CHANCE! – Bonmati virtually scores an excellent aim for the hosts! The Spanish star steals the ball excessive up the pitch and goes for an audacious try at aim, attempting 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 aim 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 aim 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 presently 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 by 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 they usually 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.

Barcelona had a whopping 30 pictures on aim all through the match, in comparison with Metropolis’s three. Dominance.