On a night when the technical standard of both teams' football was a joy to watch, a goal in each half from Naomi Layzell and Khadija Shaw gave the English side a memorable victory that will go down in the club's history as one of their greatest to date.
After three consecutive seasons of either failing to progress through the qualifying rounds or failing to earn a European place altogether, this was Manchester City's first appearance in the group stages of this competition since the format was tweaked to introduce groups in 2021. The captain Alex Greenwood said on Tuesday that her team belonged here. This performance certainly suggested that statement had merit.
After such a long wait to return to European women's football's top club competition, the task of facing the team that won the title in both of the past two seasons and reached five of the past six European finals had looked a daunting one. Yet Manchester City, rather than looking fazed, came out with a point to prove. The hosts set the tone inside the opening minute, pressing the Barcelona defence so intensely from kick-off that they were forced into conceding a throw-in immediately.
Denne historien er fra October 10, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 10, 2024-utgaven av The Guardian.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
This one will mean something different. I'm doing it for me now'
The big interview Joseph Parker New Zealander believes upsetting Daniel Dubois on Saturday to claim the IBF world heavyweight title would be his greatest achievement yet
'We are one' Sudanese refugees find sanctuary with their neighbours
At the Joda border crossing between Sudan and South Sudan, movement is constant. Just 100 metres separate the two border checkpoints - on the Sudanese side, three raised flags welcome newcomers; on the South Sudanese side, a sign in Arabic and English marks the entrance to the country.
No chilling effect
Watchdog chief embraces new focus on growth
Clubs will disappear Grassroots rugby still crying out for help in shadow of Six Nations riches
ou may have noticed that the sports pages are less, well, sporty than they once were.
'Buckle up and enjoy the ride' Van Dijk calls on Liverpool to calm nerves and relish title race
Van Dijk calls on Liverpool to calm nerves and relish title race
Julianne Moore children's book under 'ideology' review in US
Julianne Moore has said it is a \"great shock\" to learn that one of her books has been \"banned by the Trump administration\" from schools serving the children of US military personnel and civilian defence employees.
Rise in teenagers penalised for riding e-scooters
Electric scooters have been blamed for a surge in children being penalised for driving without insurance.
Push to free Letby 'not right thing to do', says Streeting
Wes Streeting has said \"waging a campaign\" on behalf of Lucy Letby is \"not the right thing to do\".
Misogyny and mind games: Murdoch family rifts exposed in rare interview
More of the Murdoch family's betrayals, leaks, \"mind games\", manipulations and humiliations have been laid bare, after a messy court trial that offered tantalising glimpses inside the dynasty.
Bringing wolves back to Scotland could restore woodland - study
Reintroducing wolves in the Scottish Highlands could lead to an expansion of native woodland, which could take in and store 1m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, researchers have suggested.
