ARSENAL DOWNED JUVENTUS, while a five-goal blitz in the space of 12 minutes sent Barcelona on their way to a 7-0 romp over St Pölten in the Women’s Champions League on Tuesday.
Ewa Pajor, Francisca Nazareth, Aitana Bonmati, Keira Walsh and Claudia Pina all scored between the 32nd and 45th minutes, before Pina and Caroline Graham Hansen added goals in the second half.
Despite scoring 16 goals and conceding none in their last two European outings, holders Barca sit second in Group D on head-to-head record after they lost their opening fixture at Manchester City.
Austria’s St Pölten stay bottom of the group with three losses from three.
The floodgates opened at the Johan Cruyff Stadium shortly after the half-hour when Pajor slid onto full-back Ona Batlle’s cross at the near post and directed the ball into the far corner.
Stand-in captain Marta Torrejon nearly doubled the score soon after she rose highest from a set-piece, but her looping header clipped the top of the crossbar.
Fresh from picking up her second Ballon d’Or last month, Aitana Bonmati nearly caught Carina Schlueter out with a chip but the goalkeeper just managed to claw out the ball.
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Barca were all over the Austrians. When Bonmati got in behind the defence on the right, her cross was parried to Nazareth who made no mistake on 38 minutes.
Bonmati opened her account in the Champions League this season two minutes later, before Walsh fizzed home a side-footed strike from outside the box in the 42nd minute.
On the stroke of half-time, Pina flitted in at the back post to guide home an outside-of-the-foot volley as Barca ran riot.
The Spanish forward then completed her brace from 12 yards seven minutes after the interval following a foul on the rampaging Batlle. Substitute Graham added a seventh in the 87th minute.
Katie McCabe (furthest left) and the Arsenal XI before the game. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Meanwhile, Goals by Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey and Caitlin Foord handed Arsenal a 4-0 win in Piedmont against Juventus.
The Gunners are second in Group C on six points while Juve sit third with one win and two losses. Interim head coach Renee Slegers enhanced her claims for taking the job permanently as she made it four wins and a draw in just under a month.
Katie McCabe started and played an hour for Arsenal, before being replaced by Swedish striker Blackstenius. The Irish captain drew an early save from Juventus goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin off a free-kick, and the goalscoring rout began before half time.
A superb team passing move unlocked the Italians’ defence with Maanum deftly applying the finish on 38 minutes.
Blackstenius, Caldentey and Foord stuck inside the final quarter of an hour to make the game safe for Renee Slegers’ side.
In the later games, City stayed three points clear of Barcelona after defeating Hammarby of Sweden, while Group C leaders Bayern Munich overcame Norwegians Valerenga.
Ireland U17 international Eve O’Carroll was an unused substitute for City, who made it three wins from as many games in Group D as they saw off Hammarby 2-0 at the Joie Stadium.
Laura Blindkilde Brown put City ahead two minutes into the second half, shortly after a strike against a post from Aoba Fujino, who then saw a shot clip the crossbar.
Fujino subsequently got on the scoresheet to wrap up victory for Gareth Taylor’s side, heading in with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Pernille Harder and Giuila Gwinn (penalty) scored early goals before Sarah Zadrazil made it 3-0 late on as Bayern Munich continued their 100% record.
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Arsenal down Juventus as Barcelona blitz St Pölten in Women's Champions League
LAST UPDATE | 12 Nov
ARSENAL DOWNED JUVENTUS, while a five-goal blitz in the space of 12 minutes sent Barcelona on their way to a 7-0 romp over St Pölten in the Women’s Champions League on Tuesday.
Ewa Pajor, Francisca Nazareth, Aitana Bonmati, Keira Walsh and Claudia Pina all scored between the 32nd and 45th minutes, before Pina and Caroline Graham Hansen added goals in the second half.
Despite scoring 16 goals and conceding none in their last two European outings, holders Barca sit second in Group D on head-to-head record after they lost their opening fixture at Manchester City.
Austria’s St Pölten stay bottom of the group with three losses from three.
The floodgates opened at the Johan Cruyff Stadium shortly after the half-hour when Pajor slid onto full-back Ona Batlle’s cross at the near post and directed the ball into the far corner.
Stand-in captain Marta Torrejon nearly doubled the score soon after she rose highest from a set-piece, but her looping header clipped the top of the crossbar.
Fresh from picking up her second Ballon d’Or last month, Aitana Bonmati nearly caught Carina Schlueter out with a chip but the goalkeeper just managed to claw out the ball.
Barca were all over the Austrians. When Bonmati got in behind the defence on the right, her cross was parried to Nazareth who made no mistake on 38 minutes.
Bonmati opened her account in the Champions League this season two minutes later, before Walsh fizzed home a side-footed strike from outside the box in the 42nd minute.
On the stroke of half-time, Pina flitted in at the back post to guide home an outside-of-the-foot volley as Barca ran riot.
The Spanish forward then completed her brace from 12 yards seven minutes after the interval following a foul on the rampaging Batlle. Substitute Graham added a seventh in the 87th minute.
Meanwhile, Goals by Frida Maanum, Stina Blackstenius, Mariona Caldentey and Caitlin Foord handed Arsenal a 4-0 win in Piedmont against Juventus.
The Gunners are second in Group C on six points while Juve sit third with one win and two losses. Interim head coach Renee Slegers enhanced her claims for taking the job permanently as she made it four wins and a draw in just under a month.
Katie McCabe started and played an hour for Arsenal, before being replaced by Swedish striker Blackstenius. The Irish captain drew an early save from Juventus goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin off a free-kick, and the goalscoring rout began before half time.
A superb team passing move unlocked the Italians’ defence with Maanum deftly applying the finish on 38 minutes.
Blackstenius, Caldentey and Foord stuck inside the final quarter of an hour to make the game safe for Renee Slegers’ side.
In the later games, City stayed three points clear of Barcelona after defeating Hammarby of Sweden, while Group C leaders Bayern Munich overcame Norwegians Valerenga.
Ireland U17 international Eve O’Carroll was an unused substitute for City, who made it three wins from as many games in Group D as they saw off Hammarby 2-0 at the Joie Stadium.
Laura Blindkilde Brown put City ahead two minutes into the second half, shortly after a strike against a post from Aoba Fujino, who then saw a shot clip the crossbar.
Fujino subsequently got on the scoresheet to wrap up victory for Gareth Taylor’s side, heading in with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.
Pernille Harder and Giuila Gwinn (penalty) scored early goals before Sarah Zadrazil made it 3-0 late on as Bayern Munich continued their 100% record.
– © AFP 2024, additional reporting from Press Association and Emma Duffy
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