On Wednesday, Barcelona Women will face Manchester City Women at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in a crucial Women’s Champions League matchup, as they both vie for the top position in Group D. Currently, Manchester City tops the group with an unblemished record, while Barcelona trails by three points in second place.
Match Preview
Barcelona, looking to defend their UWCL title after winning it three times in the past four years, aims to bounce back from a challenging start in their quest for a fourth trophy. The campaign began on a sour note with a 2-0 away defeat against Manchester City on the opening matchday. However, the team quickly regained momentum with dominant home performances, featuring a 7-0 win against Hammarby and a staggering 9-0 victory over St. Polten.
Under the guidance of Pere Romeu, Barcelona secured a decisive 4-1 away victory in Austria against St. Polten and recently triumphed 3-0 over Hammarby, aided by Ewa Pajor’s brace. To seize the top spot from City, Barcelona must win by at least two goals, and their confidence is palpable after winning their last dozen competitive matches since their earlier defeat to City.
On the other hand, Manchester City Women are riding high, having achieved a perfect record in their first UWCL group stage experience. The campaign kicked off with a statement 2-0 win against Barcelona, featuring goals from Naomi Layzell and Bunny Shaw. Following a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over St. Polten, City kept their winning streak alive with back-to-back victories over Hammarby and a recent 2-0 win against St. Polten, ensuring they remain one of three unbeaten teams in the group stage.
However, City faces challenges heading into this pivotal match, especially after a surprising 2-1 loss to Everton in the WSL, leaving them six points behind league leaders Chelsea. Despite their impressive record, they must bounce back against Barcelona and will progress to the knockout stages if they secure at least a draw or a narrow defeat.
Barcelona Women’s Champions League form:
Barcelona Women’s form (all competitions):
Manchester City Women’s Champions League form:
Manchester City Women’s form (all competitions):
Team News
For Barcelona, they will be without Martina Fernandez due to a knee injury, and doubts linger around Ellie Roebuck and Keira Walsh, who missed Sunday’s victory over Valencia with illness. Caroline Graham Hansen’s participation remains uncertain after her injury cut short her last appearance. Meanwhile, Alexia Putellas, absent for the past four matches, may potentially return for the UWCL clash.
Manchester City, unfortunately, finds themselves missing several key players, including Lauren Hemp, Vivianne Miedema, and Shaw. Defender Alex Greenwood is ruled out again due to injury, and the team will also be without Sandy MacIver and Risa Shimizu, with Layzell’s availability still unclear.
Possible Starting Lineup for Barcelona Women:
Coll; Batlle, Paredes, Leon, Rolfo; Bonmati, Guijarro, Pina; Nazareth, Brugts, Pajor
Possible Starting Lineup for Manchester City Women:
Yamashita; Casparij, Aleixandri, Kennedy, Ouahabi; Roord, Hasegawa, Blindkilde; Park, Fujino, Fowler
Prediction
Our prediction is: Barcelona Women 3-1 Manchester City Women. Despite City’s flawless record in the group stage, their lack of key players may prove detrimental. With Barcelona’s confidence soaring after a string of victories, the hosts are likely to secure a vital win to leapfrog City in the standings.
