Rodri believes that Manchester City must focus on themselves — and not the poor form of their opponents — if they want to get their Champions League campaign off to a winning start.
19.08.2022 - 01:17 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
England hero Lauren Hemp scored one and made another as Manchester City Women made a winning start to their Champions League qualifying campaign with a thumping 6-0 victory over Tomiris-Turan in Madrid on Thursday evening.
Two goals from Khadija Shaw inside the opening 21 minutes set Gareth Taylor's side on their way before Hemp added a third in first-half stoppage time. City, however, continued to turn the screw and added a glut of goals in the closing exchanges, with Spaniard Vicky Losada's strike marking the beginning of a further three goals in the space of just 10 minutes.
Deyna Castellanos, a summer signing from Atletico Madrid, netted a fifth from the penalty spot before an own-goal from Aytaj Sharifova completed the rout in stoppage time, meaning City will now face Real Madrid on Sunday for a place in the second qualifying round. Both sides are navigating their way through the League Path of the qualifying phase.
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Boss Taylor included five Lionesses heroes from England's recent European Championship success in his starting line-up, awarding starting berths to Ellie Roebuck, Alex Greenwood, Kiera Walsh, Chloe Kelly - who scored the winner for England in the final against Germany at Wembley last month - and Hemp. City started on the front foot and got their noses in front inside just four minutes.
Hemp, who so often causes chaos out wide, got the better of her marker, delivered a cross and found Shaw, who finished expertly to give the Blues an early lead. The same duo linked up once again with 20 minutes on the clock, but this time Shaw's back heel was kept out by goalkeeper Sharifova.
However, she was not to
Rodri believes that Manchester City must focus on themselves — and not the poor form of their opponents — if they want to get their Champions League campaign off to a winning start.
Manchester City will play the opening game of their 2022/23 UEFA Champions League campaign on Tuesday night as Pep Guardiola's side face Sevilla.
Here are your Manchester City evening headlines for Sunday, September 4
Pep Guardiola has a decision to make on Erling Haaland for Manchester CIty's trip to Aston Villa on Saturday.
New Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji 'made too many mistake' during his time with Borussia Dortmund, according to former City and Liverpool star Didi Hamann.
Glenn Hoddle has inferred that Liverpool have already slipped up by giving Manchester City a five-point head start in the Premier League title race at the beginning of the new season.
Manchester City Women have been knocked out of the Champions League after they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid as Caroline Weir scored against her old club.
Casemiro has not been named in Real Madrid's matchday squad for the weekend as he gets close to signing for Manchester United.
Real Madrid are reportedly pursuing Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes as a replacement for Manchester United target Casemiro.
Manchester City have been charged by the Football Association for the pitch invasion that followed their Premier League title win on the final day of last season in May.
Manchester United have approached Real Madrid about the possibility of signing midfielder Casemiro.
Scott Parker admitted the quality levels between Manchester City and Bournemouth were just too high in Saturday's 4-0 defeat, pointing towards the magic in the Blues' opening two goals as prime examples.
Manchester City will step out at the Etihad Stadium for the first time on Saturday when they host newly promoted Bournemouth.