Manchester City put the disappointment of getting eliminated in the Round of 32 of the Women’s Champions League last season by putting FF Lugano to the sword in emphatic fashion on Wednesday. City lost 2-0 away and 3-1 on aggregate to Atletico Madrid last term to exit the competition after reaching the semi-final in the earlier two editions.
But the team is set to make amends and go further this time around. A 4-0 home victory against the Swiss side completed an 11-1 aggregate win to storm into the Round of 16 in grand style.
The result marks the highest aggregate win for the team in the competition. It’s a high that signifies greater things to come for the Sky Blues as we pursue continental silverware. After winning the domestic double last term, league and European success are targets this time around.
The team has started the season in impressive fashion, maintaining a 100℅ record in the league after four games. Players like Janine Beckie, Pauline Bremer, Keira Walsh, Megan Campbell, youngster Jess Park, as well as captain Steph Houghton have been in inspired form contributing to the team’s success so far. Beckie scored a hat-trick with Bremer adding a fourth in the latest triumph.
City joins the likes of Slavia Prague, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Wolfsburg and holders Lyon who are safely through to the next round. Top teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Glasgow City, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid amongst others are also expected to progress. The team must therefore, prepare for a tougher test in the next round.
The draw for the Round of 16 will be made on September 30. It will reveal City’s next opponent in the competition. With the stakes getting higher, Nick Cushing’s side will need to maintain the current form or do even better to progress further.