Manchester City will be looking to advance to the Women’s Champions League group stage this evening when they take on Real Madrid.
The competition has been given a revamp this season and will feature a 16-team group stage for the first time in its history.
However, for City to get there they must overcome Real Madrid in the second round of qualifying.
The first leg of the tie was played out last week in the Spanish capital and ended in late heartbreak for the Blues. Gareth Taylor’s side had taken the lead just after the break through Caroline Weir but squandered the lead in injury time as Kenti Robles grabbed a last gasp equaliser.
Away goals are no longer applied, either, so the two teams will be playing on a level playing field at the Academy Stadium, with kick-off coming at 7pm, and both sides will be aiming to be in the hat for Monday’s group stage draw.
You can follow all the action LIVE below.
FT: 0-1 (1-2)Daniel Murphy
Full-time: Manchester City 0-1 (1-2)
After dominating for the vast majority of the game and creating plenty of chances in the second-half, City have lost and are knocked out of the Champions League before the group stages.
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Four mintues added
Just four minutes to go as Houghton heads wide from a corner.
87′ 0-1 (1-2)Daniel Murphy
Another chance missed!
City certainly have had chances this half but once again it’s been missed. White’s header from a corner was met by Coombs but she can only get a knee on it and it goes wide.
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White off the line!
Whtie has just had a header that already had fans cheering cleared off the line!
72′ 0-1 (1-2)Daniel Murphy
White hits wide
Weir and Hemp do well to find White but she hits her shot wide while under pressure.
69′ 0-1 (1-2)Daniel Murphy
Double change
Beckie and Stanway are on for Raso and Losada. City’s players and fans are growing frustrated at the way Madrid are cannily winning free-kicks.
62′ 0-1 (1-2)Daniel Murphy
Madrid nearly get a second
From a free-kick the ball falls to Andres who lets fire from distance and it whistles past the post as it goes just wide.
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Morgan booked
Morgan is shown a yellow card as she trips up a Madrid attacker.
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City pressing the issue
City are throwing in some hard challengers and aren’t letting Madrid breathe as they try and force an equaliser. Hemp and White have been dangerous but, just like the first-half, nothing is landing for them yet.
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City nearly capitalise on a Madrid mistake
Madrid appeared to have lost the ball off a goalkick and it nearly fell for White to tap home but it was cleared by some great defending. City now have a dangerous free-kick.
49′ 0-1 (1-2)Daniel Murphy
First chance of the half
City have started the half with purpose as they look to level the tie and they have fashioned the first chance. Hemp did well down the left to send in a cross which White met but she can’t get much direction on her header and it flashes across the goal.
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We’re back underway
The second-half is off and White has replaced Shaw.
HT: 1-0 (1-2)Daniel Murphy
Half-time: Manchester City 0-1 Real Madrid (1-2)
City won’t know how they are behind after dominating the half in terms of possession but they failed to heed Madrid’s warning after having a disallowed goal and with just their second shot on target they took the lead on the edge of half-time.
43′ 0-1 (1-2) KEY EVENT
Goal! Madrid take the lead!
City won’t quite know how but they have fallen behind.
Madrid had only just had their first shot on target after Taieb patted Robles’ effort over the bar but from the resulting corner the ball fell for Zornoza Sanches who thumped it across the goal and into the net.
40′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
Shaw finally meets a cross but it’s off-side
City finally manage to find Shaw with a cross – after the Jamaican had her self done brilliantly in the build up to win the ball and get the move going – but her header was poor, going well over the bar, and she was flagged off-side anyway. Things just aren’t clicking for City yet.
36′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
It comes to nothing
The ball is drilled in and cannons of Raso’s head but floats out for a goalkick. Those are the opportunities City need to be doing more with.
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Dangerous City free-kick
Raso does really well down the right to steal the ball off Rodriguez and is then barged over. She’s awarded a free kick on the touchline.
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Lucky let off for City
Moments later Garcia has the ball in the net. The ball drops for her at an acute angle and she sweeps into the far corner but just as the goal is about to deflate City the off-side flag is raised. A lucky escape and a big warning shot for the Blues. They have dominated this half but need to start making better chances.
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First effort for Madrid
Madrid have a rare attack after probing down te left and the ball lands for Garcia on the edge of the box but her shot is well clear of the cross bar.
27′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
Another promising move
Coombs sets Morgan away down the right and her ball into the box nearly lands for Shaw but it’s just behind her and is cleared away. City continue to knock on the door but just need one of those balls to land for them.
24′ 0-0 (1-)Daniel Murphy
That’s more like it!
Just seconds later City finally get a few forward and it’s Raso who breaks down the right and sends a dangerous cross into the box but it’s just an inch to high for Shaw to meet. Better, though.
22′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
City need more support in attack
City’s biggest problem so far is that they have struggled to get numbers up in attack to support a player when she gets in a good position. Hemp was forced to go it alone earlier and Shaw has just done brilliantly to gather and carry the ball forward but had no options so was eventually tackled by Andres.
There’s promising signs and it’s been all City, but they need that little extra to gain the lead.
15′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
Great tackle by Weir
Madrid respond by winning their own corner and the ball is close to landing perfectly for a shot on goal but Weir gets in to clear the ball which eventually falls to Hemp, she runs the length of the pitch and with no support tried a lofted effort on goal that sails well wide.
But her effort is well appreciated from supporters.
12′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
Great play by City
Some lovely interplay up the pitch from City sees Raso with space down the right and her ball nearly lands perfectly for Hemp but is cleared for the corner. From the kick, Houghton comes within a whisker of nodding in the opener. City gaining the ascendancy here!
8′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
Great chance squandered
Losada was presented with space and had a great chance to play through Raso but her pass was short and easily intercepted. City could have been on for a big chance there but they need to get tighter on the ball.
3′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
First chance for City
After a slightly scrappy start City have started to get hold of the ball in the opening stages. Their first chance has fallen to Raso, who picked the ball up on the edge of the box after a crossed in free-kick, but it deflected and looped out for a corner, which came to nothing.
1′ 0-0 (1-1)Daniel Murphy
City get the game underway!
We’re off and the fans are in good voice, one has even brought a drum with him which is… very loud!
Daniel Murphy
The players are on the pitch
The players are out, the crowd is excited and we’re moments away from kick-off!
Daniel Murphy
The sun is going down
Mercifully some clouds have appeared and the sun is starting to dip in the sky, meaning the match will be a bit easier to watch for everyone in attendance who are sat facing it.
Daniel Murphy
A good crowd in attendence
It’s the first time City fans have been able to watch their team in person at home in 18-months and there is a sizeable crowd filling up the main stand.
There must be some Madrid fans in attendance too as Los Blanco’s Kenti Robles just got a big scream of appreciation from one person when her name was read out.
