Knowing at the very worst his side could afford to lose by a one-goal deficit and still top Group D, quarter-final-bound Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor named an unchanged XI despite an unforeseen 2-1 weekend defeat in the Barclays Women’s Super League to Everton. Notably, the injury-hit Citizens were still without Khadija Shaw, Vivianne Miedema and Lauren Hemp – who have netted 45% of the visitors’ goals across all competitions this season (19 out of 42) – in addition to club captain Alex Greenwood.
Meanwhile, defending UEFA Women’s Champions League winners Barcelona welcomed Keira Walsh back into the fold after the Lioness missed the 1-0 Liga F victory over Valencia due to illness.
**BAR**: Coll; Batlle, Paredes, León, Brugts; Bonmatí, Guijarro; Walsh; Pina, Pajor, Paralluelo
**MCI:** Keating; Casparij, Kennedy, Aleixandri, Ouahabi; Roord, Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown; Fujino, Fowler, Park
In the wake of celebrating 12 consecutive victories, Barcelona showcased an unparalleled dominance throughout the opening quarter-hour as Khiara Keating kept out Salma Paralluelo, Ewa Pajor and Aitana Bonmatí – with a diving one-handed stop from the former, the pick of the bunch. Two-time Ballon d’Or winner Bonmatí should have opened the scoring shortly before the half-hour mark but uncustomarily missed an open goal after Keating had found herself stranded in unwanted land outside the safety of the penalty area.
Keating produced another stunning save to deny Esmee Brugts, playing in an unfamiliar left wing-back position, not long after as they continued to menacingly pursue a place on the scoresheet before the halftime whistle. Nevertheless, despite being outplayed in and around the final third for most of the first half, the visitors nearly broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 36th minute as Jill Roord left the crossbar shaking with a fierce effort struck from a far distance.
Pajor would be denied again by the inspired figure of Keating, as the recently-crowned new City number one redirected the Polish international’s one-on-one effort around the post. However, nothing could prevent the hosts from deservedly celebrating the game’s opening goal in the 44’ as Clàudia Pina clinically fired home a fifth goal in this season’s competition from underneath the penalty spot.
Following her inexplicable first-half miss, Bonmatí atoned in the 57’ as the scintillatingly skillful Spaniard nutmegged Keating to double Barcelona’s berth, in turn sending Pere Romeu’s side to the top of Group D courtesy of their one-sided goal difference (+16). The underside of the bar would keep Bonmatí from a brace, and another for the hosts; however, it did not take long for a third respective goalscorer to get their name onto the scoresheet. On the pitch for only a matter of minutes, Alexia Putellas signalled her immediate intent by leaving the statuesque Keating in awe with a strike that nestled nicely into the back of the net.
[Embed from Getty Images](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2190576414)
Ultimately, that concluded a severely disappointing expenditure for a depleted City side in front of 29,007 at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, amid Pajor and substitute Vicky López failing to make it four, with Barcelona subsequently leapfrogging Taylor’s side to the top of Group D.