Real Madrid Femenino 1, Man City Women 1 (UEFA Women’s Champions League)
Caroline Weir’s away goal was cancelled out by an injury time equaliser by Real Madrid defender Kenti Robles to leave Manchester City’s Champions League group stage ambition finely balanced.
Karima Benameur Taieb was called into action several times during the absorbing tie, denying goalscoring chances for Real whose star striker Esther Gonzalez wasted the majority of chances for the home side.
Esther blazed over from the penalty spot and hit the crossbar with a header amongst handful of great chances to score while City had a late headed goal by Jill Scott ruled out for a foul before Robles’ late strike.
City boss Gareth Taylor felt a draw was a fair result despite being seconds away from taking a lead back to the City Football Academy after players returned late from Olympics duty to join a squad which was hit hard by injuries.
He said: “This is our first game. It’s early on for us in fitness terms
“We improved a lot in the second half but I have to say the draw is a fair result. They were a threat dow the right side most of the evening.
“We can’t kid ourselves that a win would have been a fair result.
“I couldn’t see anything wrong with Jill’s goal.
“We didn’t get a lot out of the officials all night – the [Ivana Andres] penalty was generous.
“There was a number of errors by the officials which went against us – but sometimes you get them and other times you don’t.
“We have some injuries at the moment, Georgia and Keira were just a bit short.
“Keira will get some imagery on her injury but Georgia shouldn’t be too far away – she might feature against Everton.”
He was very happy with the performance of stand-in goalkeeper Karima Benameur Taieb, who came in to the side after an injury to Ellie Roebuck.
He added: “She did really well, she was calm and her handling was good, and she had to make more saves than we would have liked.
“We’re missing Ellie and Karen [Bardsley] was still returning from her hamstring injury.
“Karima was closer to being fully fit than Karen.”
And although City had a number of new faces to integrate into the side, Taylor had to adjust things in midfield as Real overran them at times but was certain that City would improve as fitness improved and the players got to know each other more.
He said: “We will miss a player of Keira [Walsh’s] quality, she understands the way we want to play.
“Vicky [Losada] hasn’t been in the building very long at all, we have to give her time.
“Laura [Coombs] understands the concepts a bit more, we have to give the players more chance to get fit.”
Injury hit Manchester City held by Real Madrid
Injury-hit City were already without Lucy Bronze and Ellen White but were also hit by a slight calf issue for goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck for the game at Real Madrid’s Alfredo Di Stefano stadium.
Keira Walsh and Georgia Stanway were also not in the match day squad while Chloe Kelly, who is out with an ACL injury, is expected to be back in action at the turn of the year.
There were debuts for Vicky Losada and Khadija Shaw while fellow new signings Alanna Kennedy, Hayley Raso, and Ruby Mace were named on the bench alongside Karen Bardsley, Jill Scott, and Jess Park.
City enjoyed early possession in Spain with Vicky Losada shooting early but seeing her effort blocked while Lauren Hemp and Janine Beckie were denied by Misa Rodriguez.
Misa was in action again denying a goal for Shaw as City kept the pressure up but the home side soon took over.
Esther Gonzalez’s shot was tipped over by Karim Benameur Taieb, heading a second effort into the side netting and sending a third wide as Madrid started to turn the early tide against City.
There was a soft penalty won by Ivana Andres after a challenge by Shaw in the 43rd minute but Esther blazed over from the spot, much to her dismay.
Benameur saved well from Ivana just before the break as City finished the half hanging on.
Caroline Weir fired City into the lead seconds after the restart after Shaw had carved open a chance, with the loose ball falling to the Scot who made no mistake.
Esther’s header came off the top of the City crossbar with Benameur beaten and sent another great chance over the bar with the City goalkeeper grounded and out of her goal.
City’s first change came on the hour mark with Hayley Raso coming on for Hemp.
But Real were still a danger in the hot conditions in Spain, with Benameur saving once again.
The Jess Park and Jill Scott came on for Losada and Shaw on 71 minutes, with Olga Carmona being replaced by Claudia Zornosa a minute later.
Jill Scott thought she had headed City into a 2-0 lead from a corner but it was ruled out for an infringement with 13 minutes to go.
Teresa Abelleira blazed over after winning the ball off Laura Coombs as City tried to see out the game.
Caroline Moller Hansen replaced Abelleira as the home side were forced to throw on more firepower to try and level the scores but City could not hold on and Mexican defender Kenti Robles’ low shot in injury time went in off the far post as Alex Greenwood’s clearance fell to her.
GOALS – Real Madrid Femenino 1, Man City Women 1 (UEFA Women’s Champions League)
Real Madrid Femenino 0, Man City Women 1: 47. Caroline Weir needed no second invite to fire the loose ball home with a sweet left foot strike after great work by Khadija Shaw.
Real Madrid Femenino 1, Man City Women 1: 90+2. Kenti Robles’ low strike went in off the back post after Alex Greenwood’s clearance fell to her.
MATCH STATS – Real Madrid Femenino 1, Man City Women 1 (UEFA Women’s Champions League)
Real Madrid Femenino: Misa, K Robles, Teresa (Moller 86), Peter, Ivana (C), Kaci, Olga (Zornoza 72), Esther, Nahikari, Lucia Rodriguez, Athenea
Real Madrid Femenino subs not used: Sofia, Lorena, Corredera, Rocio, Pichi, Ari, Salas
Goal: Robles 90+2
Man City Women: Taieb, Morgan, Houghton (C), Greenwood, Stokes, Losada (Scott 71), Coombs, Weir, Beckie, Hemp (Raso 60), Shaw (Park 71)
Man City Women Subs not used: Bardsley, Kennedy, Mace
Goal: Weir 47
Referee: Sandra Bastos (POR)