Women's Champions League: Barcelona vs Manchester City facts

Manchester City put their perfect record in UEFA Women's Champions League Group D on the line as they take on holders Barcelon in Spain on Matchday 6.

Barcelona confirmed their progress to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory at Hammarby in Stockholm on 12 December, when group leaders Man City made it five wins from five in a 2-0 home victory against St. Pölten.

City will win the group if they avoid defeat by two goals or more.

Previous meetings

2024/25 Women's Champions League group stage
Manchester City 2-0 Barcelona
The Women's Super League side prevailed on Matchday 1 in England, Naomi Layzell opening the scoring after 36 minutes with her first senior goal, and then turning provider for Khadija Shaw in the 77th minute to complete a statement win.

2020/21 Women's Champions League quarter-finals
Barcelona 3-0 Manchester City
Manchester City 2-1 Barcelona
Barcelona took control of the tie through goals from Asisat Oshoala (35), Mariona Caldentey (53pen) and Jennifer Hermoso (86) in the first leg in Monza, Chloe Kelly missing a second-half penalty for the visitors.

Second-leg goals from Janine Beckie (20) and Samantha Mewis (68pen) either side of another Oshoala goal were not enough for the English club, who bowed out 2-4 on aggregate against opponents who went on to claim the trophy for the first time.

Form guide

Barcelona

Record vs English clubs W6 D2 L6 F21 A16
Home record vs English clubs W2 D1 L3

Barcelona were winless in their first four contests against English opponents but have been victorious in five of the last eight games, most recently a 2-0 semi-final second-leg win over Chelsea last season to complete a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The Catalans have only beaten an English side once in Spain – a 4-1 success against Arsenal in the 2021/22 group stage. The 2021 win against Manchester City took place in Monza in Italy.

Barcelona beat Chelsea 4-0 in the 2021 final in Gothenburg to win the Women's Champions League for the first time.

Since losing this season's Group D opener at City, Barcelona have scored a combined 23 goals in their four wins. A Ewa Pajor double (7, 40) and a third from Aitana Bonmatí (80) helped them defeat Hammarby on Matchday 5, securing their place in the quarter-finals.

Barcelona retained the trophy by defeating eight-time winners Lyon 2-0 in last season's final in Bilbao, goals from Bonmatí (63) and Alexia Putellas (90+5) helping the Spanish side win their third title.

It was their second in succession after beating Wolfsburg 3-2 in the 2023 final in Eindhoven in which Patri Guijarro (48, 50) and Fridolina Rolfö (70) found the net as the Spanish side rallied from two goals down at the break.

Barcelona have reached the final in five of the past six seasons, losing to Lyon in 2019 (1-4) and 2022 (1-3) in addition to their three triumphs.

Barcelona have also won three domestic trophies in 2024. In January they lifted the Supercopa de España Femenina before claiming a record-extending ninth Liga F title in a dominant league campaign consisting of 29 wins, one draw and no defeats. They clinched their tenth Copa de la Reina – also a record – with an 8-0 final victory against Real Sociedad on 18 May.

Barcelona have won all eight of their home games in all competitions this season, scoring 49 goals and conceding just five.

In charge since 2021, Jonatan Giráldez departed as head coach after last season's Champions League triumph; he has been succeeded by assistant Pere Romeu.

Manchester City

Record vs Spanish clubs W2 D3 L5 F8 A13
Away record vs Spanish clubs W0 D2 L3

The Matchday 1 victory against Barcelona was only City's second win in their ten games against Spanish teams.

City have been eliminated from the Women's Champions League by Liga F opposition on three occasions. They lost in successive seasons to Atlético de Madrid, in the 2018/19 round of 32 (1-3 aggregate) and the last 16 in 2019/20 (2-3), recording two draws and two defeats in those four matches.

Their most recent three fixtures prior to this season were all against Real Madrid, a 1-2 aggregate defeat in 2021/22 round 2 (1-1 a, 0-1 h) and a 0-1 loss in the 2022/23 round 1 final in Madrid.

City are seeking their first ever victory in Spain.

Gareth Taylor's side followed their victory in their Group D opener with a 3-2 win at St. Pölten before two successes against Hammarby (2-0 h, 2-1 a). Second-half goals from Lily Murphy and Kerstin Casparij earned a 2-0 home win over at St. Pölten on 12 December.

Shaw is City's top scorer in the group stage with three goals.

Having lost in the early rounds in 2021/22 and 2022/23, and not featured at all in 2023/24, City are participating in the group stage for the first time this season.

The English club reached the Champions League semi-finals on their first two entries, losing to eventual champions Lyon on both occasions – 2-3 in 2016/17 (1-3 h, 1-0 a) and 0-1 in 2017/18 (0-0 h, 0-1 a).

They began this season's European campaign with an 8-0 aggregate defeat of Paris FC in round 2. Taylor's team were 5-0 first-leg victors in Paris on 18 September, Jess Park (38, 58) scoring twice alongside goals from Vivianne Miedema (36), Mary Fowler (49) and Kelly (79). Kelly (2) opened the scoring in the second leg in Manchester, before a Shaw double (31, 65pen) sealed a 3-0 win.

City missed out on the Women's Super League title on goal difference to Chelsea last season despite winning 18 of their 22 league games (D1 L3).

Key facts

Barcelona have won all 11 group matches at home and have not conceded a goal in their last ten.

The Catalan club have won 20 of their 23 group stage games (D1 L2).

Barça have won 18 of their last 22 Women's Champions League matches (D2 L2).

City have won all seven Women's Champions League matches this season, equalling their best run in the competition set from April 2017 to March 2018.

The English side have kept five clean sheets in their seven European fixtures this season.