The Women’s Champions League holders began the new-look 2021/22 competition with a statement victory over Arsenal.
This year’s tournament features a 16-team group stage for the first time, with the Gunners and Barcelona paired in Group C along with debutants Hoffenheim and HB Koge.
Tuesday night’s match was a contest between two of European football’s most in-form teams, with reigning Primera Liga champions Barca having scored 35 goals in five straight wins so far this term and Arsenal having triumphed in their first nine matches across all competitions under new manager Jonas Eidevall.
But it was mostly one-way traffic at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, with goals from Mariona Caldentey and Uefa Women’s Player of the Year Alexia Putellas giving the dominant hosts a healthy half-time lead.
Asisat Oshoala made it three shortly after the interval, though Arsenal did improve and hit back through Frida Maanum.
However, substitute Lieke Martens restored Barca’s three-goal advantage before Putellas saw a stoppage-time penalty saved by Manuela Zinsberger.
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