There is a deal with within the Girls’s Champions League on Wednesday night time as Manchester Metropolis tackle holders Barcelona on Matchday 1 of the group stage.
Barcelona have emerged because the continent’s dominant drive within the ladies’s sport post-pandemic. The Catalans have lifted the trophy 3 times since 2021 and have gained the competitors in back-to-back years heading into 2024/25.
Barca have additionally gained 5 consecutive Liga F titles at a canter and have began the brand new season with 5 wins from 5. Their final defeat arrived towards Chelsea on 20 April earlier this 12 months.
An imposing activity awaits Gareth Taylor’s Metropolis aspect, there is not any doubt about that. The 2-time UWCL semi-finalists lack pedigree on the continental stage however are the most effective groups within the competitors having gone toe-to-toe with Chelsea within the Girls’s Tremendous League final season.
Metropolis sit atop the WSL desk by way of three video games heading into Wednesday’s bout and can be aiming to ship an enormous assertion with a midweek victory to kick off their European marketing campaign.
Right here is 90min’s information to this blockbuster UWCL group stage conflict.
Man Metropolis vs Barcelona H2H Report (All Video games)
Present kind (all competitions)
|
Man Metropolis |
Barcelona |
|---|---|
|
Man Metropolis 2-0 West Ham – 06/10/24 |
Madrid CFF 1-8 Barcelona – 05/10/24 |
|
Man Metropolis 1-0 Brighton – 29/09/24 |
Barcelona 10-1 Granada – 28/09/24 |
|
Man Metropolis 3-0 Paris FC – 26/09/24 |
Sevilla 0-1 Barcelona – 21/09/24 |
|
Arsenal 2-2 Man Metropolis – 22/09/24 |
Barcelona 3-1 Actual Sociedad – 13/09/24 |
|
Paris FC 0-5 Man Metropolis – 18/09/24 |
Deportivo La Coruna 0-3 Barcelona – 08/09/24 |
|
Nation |
TV channel/dwell stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
DAZN UK, TNT Sports activities 1, discovery+, discovery+ app |
|
United States |
DAZN USA |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Taylor rotated evenly on the weekend however star striker Khadija Shaw and summer time arrival Vivianne Miedema ought to return to the Metropolis XI on Wednesday. Whereas Shaw ought to get the nod up high, the WSL’s all-time main scorer will work simply off the Jamaican in a deeper attacking function.
Sandy MacIver and Risa Shimizu are each recovering from long-term knee accidents, however Jess Park could return to the matchday squad. Park missed Sunday’s victory over West Ham because of a foot challenge.
Laia Aleixandri, who spent 5 years at Barca as a youth and reserve group participant, is predicted to begin at centre-back.
Man Metropolis predicted lineup vs Barcelona (4-3-3): Yamashita; Casparij, Aleixandri, Greenwood, Ouahabi; Park, Hasegawa, Miedema; Fujino, Hemp, Shaw.
Former Man Metropolis goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck joined Barca in the summertime however is unlikely to be out there for Wednesday’s sport. Salma Paralluelo can be set to overlook out for the away aspect.
Barca rested many gamers for his or her 8-1 thumping of Madrid CFF on the weekend, though Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati missed the victory with a knock. There’s hope she’ll be positive to journey to Manchester, nevertheless.
If she is match to function, Bonmati will make up a 3rd of Barca’s glorious midfield alongside Lioness Keira Walsh and two-time Ballon d’Or victor Alexia Putellas.
Barcelona predicted lineup vs Man Metropolis (4-3-3): Coll; Batlle, Engen, Leon, Rolfo; Bonmati, Walsh, Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Pina.
The back-to-back champions are the group to beat on this competitors and head into this bout having scored eight occasions within the second half on the weekend. They’re in a rampant temper, though Metropolis can be their sternest take a look at since they overcame Lyon in final season’s remaining.
The hosts can be determined to land an early blow on the holders and undoubtedly have the standard to harm the guests. This must be a cracking sport, though durations of rigidity must be anticipated. It might be a contest through which neither group deserves to lose.
