UEFA’s new Women’s Champions League is featuring a 16-team group stage for the first time. It was given an exciting start by defending champions Barcelona. Barcelona beat Arsenal 4-1 in an outstanding display on Tuesday.
- Goals from Mariona Caldentey, Alexia Putellas, the newly crowned European player of the year, who received her trophy before kick-off Asisat Oshoala and Lieke Martens earned the home team a comfortable win with Frida Maanum scoring a consolation goal from a corner.
- The score line has been flattered the Gunners, who had six shots while their opponents had 35. Arsenal barely registered time on the ball.
- The deflated Arsenal manager, Jonas Eidevall said,
“I’ve learned that we have a team that never gives up. It was a really, really tough game. I can probably do things better in preparing the team to find those solutions even quicker than they did today.”
- Barcelona showed in this round why they will be tough to stop this season and should definitely have extended that scoring run, ending with 35 shots, 14 on target.
- Next in the Champions League, the Gunners host German side Hoffenheim on Thursday, 14 October, with Barcelona going to Denmark to face Koge.
- In addition, Hoffenheim beat Koge 5-0 in Tuesday’s other Group C game.
