PARIS: Manchester City made a spectacular return to the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday, defeating holders Barcelona 2-0 in the opening round of group stage matches as Bayern Munich downed Arsenal 5-2.
Both teams hit the woodwork in a lively start to the Group D clash at a sold-out Joie Stadium in Manchester, with City grabbing the lead when defender Naomi Layzell bravely scrambled home.
Vivianne Miedema headed smartly back across goal from a corner and a lunging Layzell reacted quickest to prod the ball past a crowd of Barcelona players.
Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati went close to an equalizer with a deflected effort, but Khadija Shaw grabbed a second for City to condemn Barcelona to a rare defeat.
Shaw beat the offside trap with a perfectly-timed run to latch onto Layzell’s pass and rounded goalkeeper Cata Coll to clinch a memorable win.
“It’s fantastic from Naomi and Bunny (Shaw) finishes it off. It gave the players a real lift and we have to remember who we’re playing against. It’s a step for us,” City manager Gareth Taylor told DAZN.
“I said in my press conference yesterday that I really admire Barcelona and what they’ve done and we try to replicate that.”
City are making their first group stage appearance, having last played in the Champions League proper in 2020-21 when Barcelona knocked them out in the quarter-finals.
The defeat is only Barcelona’s second in 19 games in the group stage since its introduction for the 2021-22 season. It is also the first time they have failed to score a goal.
Pernille Harder scored a second-half hat-trick as Bayern kicked off their Group C campaign with a convincing victory over Arsenal in Germany.
Arsenal led through Mariona Caldentey’s strike in Germany, but Bayern captain Glodis Viggosdottir brought the home side level before Sydney Lohmann put them ahead.
Laia Codina equalized for Arsenal midway through the second half only for Harder to find the net three times in the final 20 minutes to secure an impressive win for German champions Bayern.
“The last few years have been tough with injuries, so now I’m just happy to be back playing in the Champions League. I was happy with the goals and the win,” said Harder, who ended a two-year goal drought in the competition.
Juventus are level with Bayern on three points following a 1-0 win away to Norway’s Valerenga, with Sofia Cantore netting the only goal.
Swedish side Hammarby won their first ever group stage game 2-0 against Austrian champions St. Poelten, who are appearing in the group phase for the third season in a row.
Vilde Hasund’s long-range effort gave Hammarby the lead and Cathinka Tandberg followed up her late winner in qualifying by wrapping up the points with another goal two minutes from time.
Man City sink Barca in Women’s Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal
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Man City sink Barca in Women’s Champions League as Bayern outgun Arsenal
Ferreira sets sights on North America Cup
- Man of the Night heads field of 12 at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on Friday
RIYADH: Ricardo Ferreira dominated last weekend’s Saudi Cup qualifying card and hopes to take this Friday’s feature at King Abdulaziz Racecourse with Man of the Night (FR) in the $40,000 (SR150,000) North America Cup.
Carrying the same colors of Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah as when landing the Saudi Cup qualifier and the 2000 Guineas on Saturday as part of a four-timer, Ferreira will partner the veteran nine-year-old who was a Ministry of Culture Cup winner last February.
The owner is also represented by Muhammad Al-Daham’s mount Ajwadi (GB) in the 12-strong field over 1,600 meters, with the Red Stable of Prince Faisal bin Khaled bin Abdulaziz sending out the Sami Alharab-trained Annafel (USA), who steps up in grade having got off the mark in handicap company last time.
A full field of 20 has been declared for the $40,000 UK Cup over 1,800 meters in which Ferreira rides Sheikh Abdullah Homoud Al-Malek Al-Sabah’s Pretty Flag (IRE), whose most recent success came in the domestic Group 2 Prince Sultan Ben Abdulaziz Cup in March.
Red Stable is doubly represented with Al Abjar (IRE) and the top-rated Almaan (USA), with the rival White Stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz also having two runners in the shape of Electability (USA) and the Camilio Ospina-ridden Faal Khair (USA).
Causeway (USA) makes a quick reappearance in the race under champion jockey Adel Al-Fouraidi after taking sixth behind Bolide Porto (IRE) in the Neom Turf Cup qualifier – the Listed Prince Khalid Abdullah Cup — last weekend.
The other feature on Friday is the $40,000 Ministry of Media Cup over the shorter 1,400 meters and Ferreira could gain feature as he gets aboard Red Stable runner and joint top-rated Latin America Cup winner Jahdoon (KSA).
His main rival from his 19 opponents could be Abdullah Al-Fairouz’s mount for the White Stable, Lilaelem (KSA), who carries the same rating and is unexposed as the winner of three of his seven starts but drops back from 1,600 meters.
Zefzaf (USA) landed last weekend’s 1351 Turf Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Saudia and his form should be boosted as the runner-up Love De Vega (IRE) is a clear pick in the 10-runner $32,000, 1,200 meters open that kicks off Friday’s card.
The Red and White stables should fight out the finish in the $32,000 1,351 meters sprint fielding four of the 10 runners with the latter represented by Fouj (USA) and last weekend’s Riyadh Dirt Sprint Qualifier sponsored by Nova second Jeddah Beach (USA).
However, Red Stable could pack a punch with the seventh from that race Hajes (GB) and Ferreira’s mount Fearnot (IRE), who makes his KSA debut after being sold for 500,000 guineas to Najd Stud / Archdale Bloodstock at the Tattersalls Sales last October, having raced in the UK for Clive Cox where he was a three-time winner from eight starts.
Saturday’s feature is the $40,000 Aseer Region Governorate Cup for three-year-olds over 1,400 meters, in which Ferreira again holds claims for the Red Stable with the once-rated winner Gaab (KSA), who was a tidy winner for the rider on New Year’s Day.
