Man City vs Barcelona LIVE: Women’s Champions League team news and line-ups tonight

Manchester City take on FC Barcelona in their Women’s Champions League group stage opener in what we be a difficult and testing encounter against the reigning champions.

Gareth Taylor’s side came through qualifying to reach this stage of the tournament and impressed with a superb 8-0 aggregate win over Paris FC. They won the first leg 5-0 away from home with Vivianne Mediema, Jess Park, Mary Fowler and Chloe Kelly all on the scoresheet before an equally comfortable 3-0 victory at the Joie Stadium back in September.

City have been drawn against Barca, Swedish side Hammarby and Austria’s St Polten in Group D, with the most demanding of those fixtures first up. A win against Barcelona will put them in pole position to qualify for the knockout rounds. But it won’t be easy, Barcelona have made an incredible start to their domestic campaign, with five wins and 25 goals across their first five games meaning things will be tough for City tonight.

Follow all the Women’s Champions League action with our live blog below:

Man City v Barcelona – LIVE

40’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal

18:28 , Karl Matchett

Five minutes to the break and Arsenal just now sitting off a little for the first time – more possession and time on the ball now for Stanway and Co. Can they fashion something before the interval? It has been very low-key from them so far.

Yellow card now for Codina for dragging down Harder as she looked to race onto a long ball over the top – perhaps unnecessary, but Arsenal clear the freekick so no immediate damage done.

36’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal

18:24 , Karl Matchett

Walti so far winning the battle with Stanway and Zadrazil to protect Arsenal’s back line from the runners from deep – Bayern really haven’t created anything in this half or managed any kind of sustained pressure.

Jonas Eidevall will be delighted at this much-improved showing from the weekend.

32’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal

18:22 , Karl Matchett

Bayern now trying to get themselves back into the game and DAZN have thankfully sorted out their sound issues after overlaying a totally different game for the last few minutes.

GOAL! 28’ – Bayern 0-1 Arsenal

18:18 , Karl Matchett

Arsenal are ahead! Caldentey with the opening goal, a fine move down the left and McCabe’s cross is met by a first-time, side-footed volley from the Spaniard and it flies past Grohs for 1-0!

24’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal

18:15 , Karl Matchett

An injury concern now for Giulia Gwinn, who gets a bit of an ankle twist in a midfield challenge. Just over midway through this first half – Arsenal with more possession and a couple of shots more than Bayern so far in what has been a positive start.

Slightly timid from both perhaps, but plenty of time to work their way into this game and competition. Gwinn looks set to continue.

20’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal

18:08 , Karl Matchett

Maanum maybe considers a shot as the ball rolls across the edge of the box, but opts out and the opening is gone. Blackstenius does well to work hard and win the corner – the Gunners on top in the last few minutes. Can they make it count though?

McCabe takes it, it’s not actually a good one and should be cleared near post but is totally missed – and it bounces just in front of the line, with no black shirt on hand to poke it over and in for the opening goal. An escape for Bayern.

16’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal

18:05 , Karl Matchett

Stanway loses out in midfield and Arsenal try to overload on the counter, but one loose pass and Bayern have it back. Buhl is all alone in attack though and it’s coming straight back at the hosts; McCabe takes on two, leaves Lohmann on the ground and … scuffs a shot wide of the near post.

Good build-up, lacking in execution though.

12’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal

18:01 , Karl Matchett

Simon fouls Mariona Caldentey and it’s a chance for the Gunners to deliver some quality into the box. Maanum and McCabe over the set piece…it’s the latter, and it’s reached by Codina, but a toepoke towards goal doesn’t have enough power to trouble the keeper and Grohs saves again.

8’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal

17:57 , Karl Matchett

Bayern just trying to put some sustained pressure on Arsenal now – Stanway has a strike from 20 yards or so, fierce but very central and easy for Zinsberger to collect.

No real headway into the Bayern defensive third yet for the visitors, though Maanum now arrows one from a similar distance to Stanway, on target but with a similar result.

4’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal

17:52 , Karl Matchett

McCabe seeing plenty of the ball in the opening spell, trying to get Arsenal on the front foot and move them forward – but it’s Pernille Harder who almost opens up Arsenal in the first driving run into the box, skipping past two challenges before being crowded out.

Five Champions League games without a goal for Harder.

1’ – Bayern 0-0 Arsenal

17:49 , Karl Matchett

Underway in Munich! Plenty of changes for Arsenal from the weekend – will that spark them into action after that listless showing?

Bayern in possession in the opening stages as you might expect – they’ll feel goals will be on the agenda once more tonight at home.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

17:46 , Karl Matchett

The players are out, the lights are on – and the anthem is being played. The Bayern Campus holds around 2,500 fans and that stand looks fairly well packed out.

And…right before kick-off, DAZN’s coverage cuts out for a moment. Thankfully back up and running in time for the start!

The Gunners wearing their very smart black away kit tonight.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

17:40 , Karl Matchett

Kick-off on the way from Munich shortly – and don’t forget we’ll be straight over to Man City against Barcelona following this match!

Pressure on Arsenal highlights ‘problem’ of the Women’s Champions League

17:35 , Jamie Braidwood

At full-time at the Emirates on Sunday, the deflation among the Arsenal fans was such that a 0-0 draw against Everton was greeted with a shrug and a sigh before a slow trudge home through the damp October mist. This was not how they envisioned starting a major week in the club’s season. Rather than bouncing into the start of the Women’s Champions League, Arsenal slumped to a dispiriting goalless draw at home. “We are disappointed with the result and the performance,” said Jonas Eidevall, unable to hide from what was clearly evident.

Then came the warning. “I think it is going to be a tough, challenging Women’s Super League this season, probably the toughest one we have ever had,” the Arsenal manager added. Their next fixtures may illustrate why. On Wednesday, the Gunners face the trip to Bayern Munich in their opening match of the Women’s Champions League group stage. Then on Saturday, Arsenal host London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates in one of their biggest games of the season. Given Arsenal’s start, it could be filed under “must not lose”, too.

According to Eidevall, Arsenal have also been handed a “disadvantage” ahead of two huge games. The Gunners face tight turnarounds for both, with one day less preparation time than their opponents. Bayern played on Saturday, while Chelsea host Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, having also had the weekend off.

Pressure on Arsenal highlights ‘problem’ of the Women’s Champions League

Bayern Munich Women vs Arsenal Women prediction: German giants may squish Gunners

17:15 , Becky Ashton

Arsenal travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday as they get their Women’s Champions League campaign underway at the FC Bayern Campus.

The Gunners have had a mixed start to the WSL season with two draws and just one win from their opening three games. The win was a narrow 1-0 success over Leicester while they drew 2-2 with Manchester City and 0-0 with Everton at the weekend.

They have also played four qualifying matches to reach this stage of the Champions League after finishing third in the Women’s Super League last season, behind Chelsea and City.

They beat Rangers 6-0 and Rosenborg 1-0 before overcoming another Swedish side in Hacken 4-1 on aggregate in a two-legged affair.

Arsenal lost the away leg against Hacken 1-0 and betting sites are forecasting another tough European away trip with Bayern a best-price of 11/8 for the win.

See the Independent’s predictions and tips here.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

17:05 , Karl Matchett

Among that Bayern lineup there will be a few familiar names to WSL viewers – Pernille Harder joined from Chelsea in 2023, scoring 13 in 23 last term amid a couple of injuries.

And Georgia Stanway, anyone?!

The club vice-captain and England Lionesses star joined in the summer of 2022, with two titles to her name since venturing across to Germany.

This term she has started with an eye for goal too – four in six so far.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

16:55 , Karl Matchett

Last night’s Champions League results:

Group A:

Roma 1-0 Wolfsburg

Lyon 3-0 Galatasaray

Group B:

Celtic 0-2 Twente

Chelsea 3-2 Real Madrid

And tonight’s fixtures…

Group C:

Bayern v Arsenal

Hammarby v St Polten

Group D:

Valerenga v Juventus

Man City v Barcelona.

We’ll have coverage of Man City against the reigning champions here on the Independent tonight too, kicking off at 8pm BST.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

16:48 , Karl Matchett

Confirmed teams are in!

Bayern: Grohs, Viggosdottir, Hansen, Gwinn, Damnjanovic, Lohmann, Buhl, Harder, Zadrazil, Simon, Stanway.

Arsenal: Zinsberger, Fox, Codina, Williamson, Mariona, Little, McCabe, Maanum, Walti, Foord, Blackstenius.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

16:30 , Karl Matchett

Pressure on Arsenal highlights ‘problem’ of the Women’s Champions League

At full-time at the Emirates on Sunday, the deflation among the Arsenal fans was such that a 0-0 draw against Everton was greeted with a shrug and a sigh before a slow trudge home through the damp October mist. This was not how they envisioned starting a major week in the club’s season. Rather than bouncing into the start of the Women’s Champions League, Arsenal slumped to a dispiriting goalless draw at home. “We are disappointed with the result and the performance,” said Jonas Eidevall, unable to hide from what was clearly evident.

Then came the warning. “I think it is going to be a tough, challenging Women’s Super League this season, probably the toughest one we have ever had,” the Arsenal manager added. Their next fixtures may illustrate why. On Wednesday, the Gunners face the trip to Bayern Munich in their opening match of the Women’s Champions League group stage. Then on Saturday, Arsenal host London rivals Chelsea at the Emirates in one of their biggest games of the season. Given Arsenal’s start, it could be filed under “must not lose”, too.

Jamie Braidwood on Arsenal’s European adventure:

Pressure on Arsenal highlights ‘problem’ of the Women’s Champions League

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

16:20 , Karl Matchett

We’re only a week on from the Arsenal manager hitting out at the WSL for poor scheduling – feeling the English game, perhaps, should emulate some of those in Europe to give teams a better chance of succeeding.

Jonas Eidevall hit out at the Women’s Super League (WSL) for the “amateurish” scheduling issues that forced the postponement of Chelsea and Manchester United.

The two clubs had been due to meet at Kingsmeadow on Sunday in a marquee clash, but the encounter was called off at short notice due to concerns over player welfare.

The decision, announced a week before the game, came after the London club were scheduled to play their first Champions League group stage fixture against Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

Arsenal and Manchester City joined Sonia Bompastor’s side in reaching the group stages; like Chelsea, they were played their weekend WSL fixture on Sunday, resulting in a tight turnaround.

Jonas Eidevall slams ‘amateurish’ WSL over ‘unacceptable’ scheduling issues

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

16:10 , Karl Matchett

A quick look at the domestic form of both clubs so far this season, then:

Bayern are five from five so far in the Frauen-Bundesliga, with 18 goals scored during that 100% start.

Additionally they won the Super Cup against Wolfsburg, 1-0, and thrashed Sand in the cup.

Arsenal sit sixth after three WSL games: one win and two draws, with the first of those being a thrilling 2-2 with Man City.

They also saw off Rangers (6-0), Rosenborg (1-0) and Hacken (4-1 on aggregate) to reach the groups in Europe.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

16:00 , Karl Matchett

It has been a decade of quite impressive consistency for Arsenal Women in the WSL – though sadly that has been at a slightly lower level than they’d ideally like, more often than not.

Since 2013, they have finished precisely third in the table on no fewer than nine occasions – with a fourth, a second and a single title win in 2019 making up the rest of the past decade or so.

They retained the League Cup last season, however, and also went all the way to the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League last season – beaten 5-4 on aggregate by Wolfsburg in the end.

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

15:49 , Karl Matchett

Arsenal head into their Champions League opener on the back of a difficult weekend; in the pouring rain and against a stubborn defence, they were held at bay and drew 0-0 with Everton at the Emirates.

While far from a devastating blow to their title hopes, Jonas Eidevall will know they can’t give up too many points on home turf if they want to seriously challenge Man City and Chelsea.

Tonight, though, attention turns to Europe.

Is Bayern v Arsenal on TV tonight? Time, channel and how to watch

15:35 , Karl Matchett

Arsenal begin their Group C efforts in the Women’s Champions League with a potentially tricky trip to Bayern Munich.

Jonas Eidevall’s side progressed past Hacken to reach the group stages of the competition and will be bidding for a deep competition run.

But Bayern, Juventus and Valeranga represent dangerous opposition for the London club, with the German side winning the Frauen Bundesliga without losing a game last season.

The Bavarians are five from five in the league so far and will start their continental campaign full of confidence.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Is Bayern Munich v Arsenal on TV tonight? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch

Bayern v Arsenal – live updates

17:04 , Karl Matchett

Under half an hour until kick-off. Two in the group go through of course so a failure to win here won’t necessarily be totally damaging for Arsenal, but of course there’s no room for complacency.

Leah Williamson, Stina Blackstenius and Caitlyn Foord are back in the lineup tonight after coming off the bench at the weekend.