UWCL roundup: Man City stun Barcelona, Pernille Harder runs riot over Arsenal | OneFootball

The UEFA Women’s Champions League is back. With Europe’s elite battling it out to be crowned champions, we won’t be short of drama and tension. We certainly weren’t in the opening fixtures, anyway.

While Manchester City stunned reigning champions Barcelona, Chelsea edged out a five-goal thriller against Real Madrid. Hammarby earned an historic first ever UWCL group stage win, while Bayern Munich and Pernille Harder ran riot over Arsenal.

Her Football Hub has got you covered every step of the way. Let’s take a look at how the action unfolded over the first week of fixtures.

Lyon 3-0 Galatasaray

Eight-time winners Lyon got their campaign off to a comfortable start against newcomers Galatasaray on Tuesday night. The hosts were always on the front foot against their Turkish counterparts.

Kadidiatou Diani had a goalbound effort hacked off the line in the 12th minute. Lindsey Horan saw her effort blocked by her teammate Danielle van de Donk as Galatasaray were struggling to contain the French side. Galatasaray’s resistance was broken moments later when Diani headed home Tabitha Chawinga’s inviting cross.

The game was made all but secure on the stroke of half-time. It was another assist from Chawinga, but this time it was Vanessa Gilles heading home on the line with Diani and van de Donk queuing behind her.

A routine night was capped off with 15 minutes to play. Amel Majri provided the cross that was headed home by Diani for her second of the evening.

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Roma 1-0 VfL Wolfsburg

A penalty from Manuela Giugliano gave Roma a dream start to their European tilt as they overcame two-time winners Wolfsburg.

When Lynn Wilms was penalised for handball just before the quarter-hour mark, Giugliano made no mistake to slam home her spot kick. Wolfsburg nearly equalised early in the second half, but Marina Hegering’s header cannoned back off the crossbar from a corner.

Roma goalkeeper Camelia Caesar denied Hegering with a smart stop with an hour played as the visitors turned up the pressure. A combination of the crossbar, more good goalkeeping and resolute defending ensured Die Wölfinnen returned to Germany empty handed.

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Chelsea 3-2 Real Madrid

Chelsea and Real Madrid played out a five-goal cracker at a soaking wet Stamford Bridge. The Blues took a second minute lead when Sjoeke Nüsken headed home Johanna Rytting Kaneryd’s cross.

As the heavens opened above west London, Nüsken was again involved when she was fouled in the box. Guro Reiten converted the spot kick with aplomb to double Chelsea’s advantage with just under half an hour gone.

Real breathed life into the game just before half-time through Alba Redondo’s strike. Mayra Ramírez added a third for the hosts just after the break with a looping header.

The Spanish side took advantage of hesitant Chelsea defending with seven minutes to play to reduce the arrears. Linda Caicedo bundled home Wva Navarro’s shot across goal. However, Sonia Bompastor’s side held firm to record an opening night win.

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Celtic 0-2 FC Twente

A brace from Kayleigh van Dooren ensured Twente took maximum points from their visit to Glasgow. It was a direct piece of play that helped break the deadlock just before half-time.

Lieske Carleer’s long ball over the top was latched on to by van Dooren who lofted the ball over the stranded Kelsey Daughterty. A smart stop on the line from Twente keeper Olivia Clark prevented Celtic from levelling moments later.

Van Dooren’s second of the evening sealed the win for the Dutch champions with six minutes to play.

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Bayern Munich 5-2 Arsenal

A hat-trick from Pernille Harder put Arsenal to the sword in Bavaria.

Mariona Caldentey gave the Gunners the lead after 30 minutes with a well-taken effort from 10 yards out. Bayern were level just before the break through Glódís Viggósdóttir, who rose above Stina Blackstenius to head home Georgia Stanway’s cross.

Sydney Lohmann put the hosts ahead on 56 minutes with a drilled effort that crept past Manuela Zinsberger at her near post.

Arsenal found an equaliser of their own in the 65 minute. Laia Codina scored her first ever UWCL goal to restore parity. After that, it was all about the Danish wizard Harder. She headed home a 73rd minute corner to put Bayern back in front.

Four minutes later, she repeated the trick. This time, it was Klara Bühl who turned provider. Her hat-trick was complete with five minutes to play. Unmarked in the box, she converted at the second time of asking after her initial shot was saved by Zinsberger.

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Vålerenga 0-1 Juventus

A first half goal from Sofia Cantore saw Juventus past Vålerenga in Olso.

The Norwegians nearly broke the deadlock in the 20th minute when Olaug Tvedten poked Jani Thomsen’s cross just past the post. A moment of real quality from Cantore gave Juve the lead. Vålerenga defender Sara Hørte did well to dispossess Chiara Beccari in the penalty box. Unfortunately for the hosts, the ball fell to Cantore who curled home past the despairing dive of Tove Enblom.

They nearly levelled just before halftime when Hørte headed Thomsen’s corner onto the post. Ten minutes from time, Hørte nearly equalised again. This time, her header was cleared off the line with Pauline Peyraud-Magnin beaten.

The home side continued to threaten from set pieces. Tvedten again prodding the ball past the post as Juve held on for three points on opening night.

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Hammarby 2-0 St Pölten

Hammarby enjoyed a fairytale UWCL debut as they beat Austrian champions St Pölten 2-0 in Stockholm.

Vilde Hasund capped off a fine team move in the 18th minute, rifling home from the edge of the box. A goal worthy of creating history as Hammarby’s first ever group stage goal.

St Pölten nearly equalised just after the hour, but Melike Pekel couldn’t quite connect with Sarah Mattner-Trembleau’s inviting cross.

The Swedish hosts made sure of the points in the dying minutes of the game. Cathinka Tandberg was picked out by a wonderful through ball from Asato Miyagawa. The Norwegian made no mistake and slotted home past Carina Schlüter.

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Manchester City 2-0 Barcelona

Manchester City and Barcelona locked horns at the Joie Stadium in the most eye-catching matchup of matchday one. Gareth Taylor’s side stunned the reigning champions with a 2-0 win at the Joie Stadium. Recap the action here with our full Man City vs Barcelona match report.

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