City qualify for Champions League knockouts as runners-up after Barcelona defeat | OneFootball

Manchester City finished as UEFA Women’s Champions League Group D runners up after a 3-0 defeat to reigning European champions Barcelona.

Gareth Taylor’s side needed to avoid defeat or lose by a single goal to qualify as group winners, but it was a tall order for a depleted City team in Catalonia.

The Blues weathered the Barcelona storm well in the opening 45 but found ourselves behind on the stroke of half-time when Claudia Pina fired home.

Aitana Bonmati made it two just before the hour after being sent through at the Olympic Stadium, with Alexia Putellas finding the bottom corner for number three.

It means City's 100% record in the competition is over, and we will face one of Olympique Lyonnais, Chelsea, Bayern Munich or Arsenal in the quarter-finals, being played in March 2025.

What Happened?

City’s 2-0 win over the European Champions in our opening fixture meant we came into our final group clash as leaders, three points ahead of the hosts.

But the Blues were missing several key players ahead of kick-off and knew we would have to weather a significant Barcelona storm in the early stages.

Khiara Keating was first called into action around three minutes in, tipping a Salma Paralluelo effort around the post after the winger had conjured up space on the right.

And the City stopper would pull off another magnificent save moments later when tipping a Mapi Leon's header over the bar from a corner.

The Blues were being forced back but holding firm and forced Cata Coll into her first save midway through the opening 45 when Jess Park tried her luck from distance on the counter.

But the majority of the play was still Barcelona’s, with Paralluelo slipping at the vital moment when shaping to shoot moments before Esme Brugts curled an effort just over the bar.

Keating, who had barely put a foot wrong, then under hit a pass to Yui Hasegawa which was picked out by Bonmati, but the midfielder fired Barcelona’s best chance of the opening half hour wide with the goal gaping.

The goalkeeper immediately atoned for her error with another incredible reaction save to deny Brugts soon after as the reigning champions’ assault on the City goal continued.

But for all of Barcelona's dominance, the Blues continued to battle and were a lick of paint away from the opener when Jill Roord rifled a vicious effort from distance off the bar as we entered the final ten minutes of the half.

Keating once again was City’s saviour as half-time approached though, tipping Ewa Pajor’s effort beyond the post when the forward was in one on one.

But the opener would come in the 44th minute, with Pina jumping on a loose ball in the Blues’ box to fire home.

The second half began in a similar way to the first, with Barcelona on the front foot but thwarted by Keating, who saved well to prevent Pina from grabbing her and the hosts’ second inside the opening minute.

Pajor was next to go close, with our stopper getting down well to her right to keep City top of the group, before former Blue Keira Walsh fired wide on the half volley from a corner.

But the pressure eventually told despite the Blues’ continued heroics at the back, with Bonmati making no mistake when sent through on goal, firing under the body of Keating.

The FIFA FIFPRO Player of the Year should’ve added her second just after the hour when a favourable deflection fell her way, but the midfielder rattled the ball against the bar from close-range to keep City in the fight.

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Putellas was introduced soon after and the two-time Ballon d’Or winner added a third for the hosts soon after with a clinical finish after City had lost the ball on the edge of the box.

In typical fashion, the Blues fought until the end, with substitute Lily Murphy's claims for a penalty waved away as stoppage time approached.

Leila Ouahabi almost found the net soon after against her former club soon after, forcing Cata Coll into a fine save down to her left.

But it was to no avail, with City signing off for 2024 with a defeat, despite a valiant effort from minute one.

How we lined up

Gareth Taylor named an unchanged team from Sunday’s Barclays Women’s Super League clash against Everton, with the only tweak seeing Jess Park start in a central role and Mary Fowler switch to the right.

Khiara Keating’s goal was protected by a back four of Kerstin Casparij, Alanna Kennedy, Laia Aleixandri and Leila Ouahabi.

Yui Hasegawa, Jill Roord and Laura Blindkilde Brown made up the midfield three, with Fowler and Aoba Fujino starting on either flank and Park leading the line.

Barcelona XI: Coll, Batlle (J. Fernandez 88'), Paredes, Leon (C), Brugts, Walsh (Nazareth 76’), Bonmati (Lopez 88'), Guijarro, Paralluelo (Rolfo 76’), Pajor, Pina (Putellas 66’)

Substitutes: Cano, Engen, M. Fernandez, Font, Graham Hansen, Roebuck, Torrejon

City XI: Keating, Casparij, Kennedy, Aleixandri (C), Ouahabi, Hasegawa, Roord, Blindkilde Brown (Murphy 60’), Fowler, Fujino, Park (Coombs 81’).

Substitutes: Yamashita, Startup, Layzell, Prior, Thomas, O'Carroll.

Up next

City are set for a well-earned rest as we enter the WSL’s winter break.

Our first match of 2025 sees us welcome Ipswich Town to the Joie Stadium on Sunday 12 January in the FA Cup Fourth Round.

Kick-off is set for 13:00 (UK), with tickets on sale here.