Barca beat City to top women’s CL group, Arsenal stun Bayern

Holders Barcelona overcame Manchester City 3-0 in the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday to pip their opponents to top spot in their group.

In Group C, Arsenal pulled off a sensational comeback to beat Bayern Munich 3-2 and top their pool thanks to a late Mariona Caldentey penalty.

In Catalonia, Claudia Pina opened the scoring for the dominant three-time champions late in the first half, before double Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas assured Barcelona of first place in Group D.

“We had lots of goal chances. The result could’ve been far more clear-cut,” Bonmati told UEFA’s website.

“But we have to be content with the fact we’ve done our job and now won the group.”

Both sides had already qualified for the quarter-finals but the question of who would claim the kinder draw in the knockouts was still to be decided when the teams met in Barcelona.

The hosts dominated from the get-go with Salma Paralluelo, Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts going close. Goalkeeper Khiara Keating was on fine form and kept City level with a couple of fine saves around the half-hour.

Pina finally made the breakthrough with a clinical finish one minute before the break.

Even at 1-0 down, the English side were still set to go through as group winners thanks to their 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture at the start of October.

“We had a thorn in our side from the first game against City,” said Bonmati. “We came into this game absolutely determined to show who we are and to put that right.”

Agencies