Layzell enjoys dream Women´s Champions League debut as Man City stun holders Barcelona

Naomi Layzell enjoyed a dream Women’s Champions League debut as her goal and assist helped Manchester City stun holders Barcelona 2-0 on Wednesday.

Layzell was playing her football in the Women’s Super League last season with relegated Bristol City, but was the star of the show at the Joie Stadium.

City were making their first appearance in the competition since falling to a 4-2 quarter-final loss to the Catalan side in March 2021, and exacted their revenge with a plucky display.

The hosts, however, almost found themselves a goal behind with just three minutes on the clock when Caroline Hansen took aim and saw her effort cannon off the post, shortly before Lauren Hemp struck the woodwork with a strike of her own.

City grew into the contest and almost got the goal their performance merited in the 35th minute when Vivianne Miedema teed up Khadija Shaw, only to see her effort saved by Cata Coll.

But from the resulting corner, Gareth Taylor’s side got their noses in front as Miedema brilliantly headed the ball back into the danger area, with Layzell sliding in to mark her Champions League debut with a goal.

FULL-TIME | Wow. Victory over the defending #UWCL champions!

2-0 | #ManCity pic.twitter.com/t6T7YVmo2x

— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) October 9, 2024

Barcelona had only failed to score once in their past 79 games heading into the encounter, and improved after the interval in their search for an equaliser.

Aitana Bonmati forced Ayaka Yamashita into making a smart save down to her right, with substitute Claudia Pina going close from distance as City were forced to withstand a relentless wave of pressure from the defending champions.

But the hosts landed a sucker punch in the 77th minute on the counter, with Layzell turning provider for Shaw, with the striker riding the challenge of Patri Guijarro before rounding Coll to seal a memorable triumph for City.

The Citizens ended the contest with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.68 compared to Barca’s 1.5, despite having four fewer shots than their opponents.

Taylor’s side sit level on points with Hammarby in Group D, after the Swedish side beat Austria’s St. Polten 2-0 earlier on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in Group C, Juventus edged out Norwegian side Valerenga to kickstart their campaign with a victory at the Intility Arena.

Sofia Cantore’s 29th minute strike proved to be the difference, with the Italian curling a fine right-footed effort beyond the grasp of Tove Enblom against the run of play.

Juventus continued to struggle throughout the contest, with Valerenga registering 25 shots, with six of those on target, ending with an xG total of 2.2.

Massimiliano Canzi’s side go level with Bayern Munich at the top of the Group C following the German side’s 5-2 thumping of Arsenal.