Holders Barcelona beat Manchester Metropolis 3-0 within the Girls’s Champions League on Wednesday to pip their opponents to prime spot of their group.
Claudia Pina opened the scoring for the dominant three-time champions late within the first half, earlier than double Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas assured Barcelona of first place in Group D.
Either side had already certified for the quarter-finals however the query of who would declare the kinder draw within the knockouts was nonetheless to be determined when the groups met in Catalonia.
The hosts dominated from the get-go with Salma Paralluelo, Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts going shut.
Bonmati almost caught out Khiara Keating on 27 minutes with a chipped effort from distance, however the ball simply skipped broad of the far publish with the goalkeeper stranded.
Keating was on type and stored Metropolis degree with a superb save to tip over Brugts’ curling effort simply after the half-hour.
The guests almost caught Barcelona with a sucker-punch when Jill Roord discovered house 30 yards out and rattled the crossbar.
However Keating was once more quickly referred to as into motion to disclaim Pajor one-on-one as Metropolis tried desperately to maintain the hosts at bay going into half-time.
Pina lastly made the breakthrough with a scientific end after the ball ricocheted to her within the field one minute earlier than the break.
Even at 1-0 down, the English facet had been nonetheless set to undergo as group winners because of their 2-0 victory within the reverse fixture in the beginning of October.
Bonmati, a day after claiming her second FIFA Finest award, confirmed her class within the 57th minute as she raced clear, held off a defender and slotted via the legs of Keating to ship Barcelona prime of the group on objective distinction.
Substitute Putellas made the victory secure for the Catalans shortly after coming off the bench with a deflected strike from outdoors the field on 69 minutes.
In Vienna, Hammarby of Sweden beat Austrians St Poelten 2-1 to complete third within the pool.
Later, Arsenal host Bayern Munich with prime spot in Group C at stake.
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