England defender Naomi Layzell scored a goal and assisted another on her Women's Champions League debut as Manchester City stunned defending champions Barcelona at Joie Stadium.

Layzell, 20, had never scored in senior football before Wednesday's showdown with Barcelona but she scrambled in a corner to give City a first-half lead.

She completed a fairytale evening by supplying the pass that sent striker Khadija Shaw through one-on-one with goalkeeper Catalina Coll and the Jamaican slotted the ball home for City's second of the night.

Having spent the opening minutes being tested by two-time Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas, young full-back Layzell eventually stamped her mark and it will be an evening she will not forget.

"To do that, scoring and assisting when she was playing out of position against Barcelona, is unbelievable," said City boss Gareth Taylor.

"It is special. I think if you get to know Naomi then you will say it doesn't surprise you. She is very humble and coachable. She's playing in a non-favoured position at right-back because she is a centre-back. She will be on cloud nine."

On a chilly night at the Joie Stadium in Manchester, fans were treated to an exhilarating contest between two clubs who consider themselves serious contenders to win the competition this season.

The woodwork was struck twice in the first half - by City's Lauren Hemp and Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen - while home defender Laia Aleixandri, heavily linked with a move to the Spanish giants this summer, cleared Ewa Pajor's poked effort off the goalline.

Barcelona came out stronger in the second half but City held on for a huge victory on their return to the main European stage for the first time since 2021.

Taylor's side sit level on points with Hammarby in Group D, after the Swedish side beat Austria's St Polten 2-0 earlier on Wednesday.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1013 HRS, OCT 10, 2024
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