Manchester City secured their spot in the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stages on Thursday night, sealing a 3-0 victory (8-0 on aggregate) against Paris FC at the Joie Stadium.
Carrying a commanding 5-0 lead from the first leg, the Blues started strongly on home soil. Chloe Kelly opened the scoring within two minutes, setting the tone for what became a routine victory. Bunny Shaw then added a brace, including a second-half penalty, to ensure Gareth Taylor’s side progressed comfortably to the next round.
“It’s a big honour for us,” said Taylor after the match. “This is where we want to be. The qualification process is really tough. I’m not the only coach, I’m sure, who has sat, over the past couple of years, with a squad that felt capable of not just being in the Champions League, but actually doing something within it.
“I would never say we are going to win it, but I think getting out of the group stages is going to be our next objective, and once we get out of the group stages, anything can happen. We just want a crack at it, that’s what we want.”
After Kelly’s early opener, capitalising on a mistake from Paris FC goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, any hope of a comeback for the French side quickly faded. City dominated from start to finish in what was their first home outing of the 2024/25 season, and though their defence was rarely troubled, it was a positive night for Naomi Layzell, who looked assured on her debut.
Bunny Shaw, unavailable for the first leg due to visa issues, inevitably ensured her name was on the scoresheet in Manchester. The Jamaican international opened her season account in the 31st minute, linking up with Kelly to turn in from close range. Shaw then doubled her tally in the second half, converting a penalty she won after being fouled in the box.
The final European qualifier also offered valuable game time to Kerstin Casparij, who replaced Alex Greenwood after 35 minutes. The defender was just one of several substitutions in the game as Taylor opted to rest a number of his players amid their Women’s Super League campaign.
After tonight’s win in the Champions League, Manchester City are joined in the group stages by Chelsea, last season’s semi-finalists, and Arsenal, who qualified on Thursday evening after defeating BK Hacken 4-0 (4-1 on aggregate) at Meadow Park.
Starting XIs:
Manchester City: Keating (GK), Layzell, Kennedy, Greenwood (C), Aleixandri, Park, Hasegawa, Blindkilde Brown, Kelly, Shaw, Fowler
Paris FC: Nnadozie (GK), Hocine, Bogaert, Corboz, Bourdieu, Mateo, Mouel, Thiney (C), Greboval, Bussy, Davis
Featured image courtesy of Manchester City FC