Manchester City beat holders Barcelona in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Bayern Munich’s Pernille Harder blew away Arsenal with a swift treble.
Group C: Bayern Munich 5-2 Arsenal, Vålerenga 0-1 Juventus
Group D: Manchester City 2-0 Barcelona, Hammarby 2-0 St Polten
Caroline Graham Hansen hit the post for Barcelona in the opening minutes and Lauren Hemp then did likewise for Manchester City, who were then indebted to Laia Aleixandri when she cleared off the goal line from Ewa Pajor.
Cata Coll turned a Jess Park effort from the post and from the resulting corner Vivianne Miedema nodded the ball back and Naomi Layzell poked the ball through a ruck of defenders to open the scoring.
Layzell sent Khadija Shaw clear in the last quarter of an hour, to round the keeper and slot in City’s second.
Arsenal had gone close to opening the scoring a couple of times, before in the 30th minute Katie McCabe’s cross was directed into the far corner of the net on the volley by Mariona Caldentey.
Bayern were back on level terms late in the first half, when Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir’s header dropped in off the crossbar.
The hosts were twice narrowly wide of the far post early in the second half, before Sydney Lohmann capped a swift break by shooting inside Manuela Zinsberger’s upright.
Within ten minutes it was 2-2 as McCabe’s corner headed home by Laia Codina, only for Permille Harder to ensure a Bayern victory with a devastating 13-miunte hat-trick.
She headed in a corner kick and cross, before following up a Zinsberger save to net at the second attempt.
Sofia Cantore gave Juventus the advantage away to Vålerenga in the 30th minute, her effort proving sufficient for all three points.
Hammarby were 2-0 winners over St Polten. the first coming seconds after Vilde Hasund headed against the bar, as she combined again with Ellen Wangerheim to net on 18 minutes. Cathinka Tandberg wrapped up the win on 89 minutes, assisted by Asato Miyagawa.
