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 led.
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.
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.
Gareth 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.
Dream debut for Layzell cut short by injury
Layzell was playing for Bristol City last season, trying to help them retain their place in the Women’s Super League, as well as experiencing her first senior England training camps.
Her move to Manchester City was a big one but she would not have expected to start against Barcelona in the Champions League, going up against world-class stars Putellas and Aitana Bonmati.
So when she found herself on the floor in the six-yard area, poking in City’s opener before half-time, it was a moment that no doubt stunned herself as much as it did everyone else in the stadium.
Fans were on their feet as City’s players surrounded Layzell and celebrated in a huddle just a few yards in front of Barcelona’s goalline.
That capped off an exhilarating opening half that saw numerous chances at both ends.
Barcelona should have scored when Vivianne Miedema’s poor pass back to goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita was intercepted by Pajor, only for City defender Aleixandri to clear the ball off the line.
At the other end, City’s Shaw and Hemp were a constant threat, while Jess Park was busy and impressive in midfield.
Back-to-back European champions Barcelona picked up the intensity in the second half and goalkeeper Yamashita was tested further, needing to keep out efforts from Bonmati and England midfielder Keira Walsh, returning to former club Manchester City for the first time.
Substitute Claudia Pina curled a shot inches wide, while another strike from Bonmati was deflected dangerously towards Yamashita’s goal but she tipped it over the crossbar.
City’s resilience was tested but they responded in superb fashion, with Layzell once again playing a vital role as she found Shaw’s perfectly-timed run with a pass in behind which last season’s WSL top goalscorer collected, before rounding goalkeeper Coll and sliding in the decisive goal.
It would have been the perfect evening for Layzell but it was cut minutes short when she limped off in stoppage time with an ankle injury.
But the 5,508 fans in attendance – a record crowd at Joie Stadium – were left with no doubts that City are capable of going far in this competition.
It was just the second time in their past 80 matches that Barca failed to score. The other occasion was in their semi-final first leg defeat by Chelsea last season.
