Lauren Hemp won a penalty for Manchester City FC. (Photo: Cristiano Mazzi/SPP/Sports Press/PA Images)Manchester City suffered a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final 1st leg away tie played in Italy.
Ellie Roebuck was twice called upon to keep her side on level terms in the first 20 minutes or so, keeping Asisat Oshoala’s shot out with an outstretched boot before Caroline Graham Hanssen stuck the loose ball wide, Aitana Bonmati then forcing the City keeper to get down sharply to make the save.
Man City came to life but Caroline Weir’s shot was straight at the keeper and Chloe Kelly could not keep her header down.
An Alexia Putellas 20-yard strike saw Roebuck push it round the post, who then got behind a free-header at the far post from the same player.
Ellen White was wide after good play from Lauren Hemp, but it was Barcelona who opened the scoring in the 35th minute, Oshoala with an effort from the edge of the box after a free kick was not cleared.
Roebuck was again called into action to take the ball of Hanssen’s feet before Sam Mewis had the ball in the home team’s net but from an offside position.
Half-time Demi Stokes made a crucial tackle only to bring down Oshoala a moment later, Mariona Caldentey thumping the resulting penalty into the corner of the net.
Within a couple of minutes, Hemp won a spot-kick at the other end but Kelly’s strike was turned over the bar by Sandra Paños.
White got on the end of a Kelly cross but was unable to score past Paños, Mewis then fluffing a chance created by Georgia Stanway, who had only just come off the bench.
City fell three behind in the last five minutes, Jennifer Hermoso with the finish after a shot from Putellas came back off the post.
Stanway could have got a late goal back but her shot on the spin failed to beat the keeper.
The second leg at the Academy Stadium is next Wednesday, 31 March, kick off 3.30pm.
