Man City maintain unbeaten start to season with Champions League cruise

Manchester City Women 2 Hammarby 0

Under the lights at the Joie Stadium, competing against an incredibly vocal away end, Manchester City ensured their impressive start to the campaign continued by grinding out a win against Hammarby.

The visitors are known for their dedicated fanbase, known as Bajen, who – on a cold Tuesday night in Manchester – created an atmosphere of hostility in a packed away end, with their relentless chanting, drumming and well-choreographed tifos.

Yet, despite this, it was City who came out on top and continued their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 campaign.

It wasn’t a smooth-sailing victory by any means. But they dug deep to gain three more points in the Europe and continue their momentum ahead of a crucial weekend clash against defending Women’s Super League champions, Chelsea.

The hosts dominated the ball for the majority of the first half, but they spent the early stages of the game being far too passive and created very little.

The best chance of the opening 45 minutes actually fell to Hammarby who were kept quiet for the majority of it. A cross into the box wasn’t properly cleared by the home side and former City midfielder Julie Blakstad ran onto the loose ball. She couldn’t pull off a shot under pressure but the ball fell to Asato Miyagawa whose effort from close range went over the bar.

Coupled with the relentless support from the vocal away end, that effort may have given the visitors some renewed confidence going into the break.

However, any momentum for Hammarby was ultimately short-lived as City broke the stalemate just two minutes into the second half.

It was a first Champions League goal for 21-year-old Laura Blindkilde Brown who met Mary Fowler’s cross in the box and stroked the ball into the far corner.

From that point on, the hosts were in control. The decisive moment came after a short period of pressure from the visitors. Aoba Fujino, who until that point had done everything but score for her team, topped off an impressive performance with her second goal for the club.

She met Alanna Kennedy’s cross from the left, ducking low to power a header into the Hammarby goal. It was the 20-year-old’s final touch of the game as she was substituted shortly after, along with her fellow goalscorer.

Speaking after the match, Gareth Taylor said: “We’re not at full strength, we know that, so fair play, the girls really stood together and worked tremendously hard to get the win.”

He praised the performance of his two goalscorers and added: “[Blindkilde Brown] has had to semi-bide her time a bit, she’s come into a group of good players, and she understands that and recognises where she’s at. But when she’s had opportunities she’s done very well.

“The challenge will always be for her, for anyone in that position, to provide and to score – it will be really good for her confidence, same with Aoba as well.

City sit top of their group in the Champions League and are in first place in the WSL table. They are yet to lose a game this season.

This victory showed that City can grind out those important wins. They have the talent in their squad to create chances and score goals when some of their bigger names aren’t firing them in and when they’re missing key players.

Gareth Taylor may be keen to continue tempering expectations but, if this performance is anything to go by, his team are certainly capable of going all the way in the competition this season.

Match details

Manchester City Women (4-3-3): Yamashita 8, Greenwood 7 (Prior, 90+1), Fowler 8, Kennedy 7, Ouahabi 6, Park 6 (Coombs, 90+1), Casparij 6, Blinkilde Brown 8 (Roord, 80), Fujino 9 (Kelly, 80), Shaw 8 (Murphy, 87), Hasegawa 7.
Goals: Blinkilde Brown (47), Fujino (80).
Bookings: Lennartsson (44), Kennedy (90).
Substitutes not used: Keating, Startup, Thomas, O’Carroll. 
Hammarby (4-3-2-1): Tamminen 4, Lennartsson 5, Carlsson 4, Nystrom 5, Andersson 5 (Sorbo, 56), Joramo 6, Miyagawa 6 (Holmberg, 56), Wangerheim 4, Hasund 5 (Josendal, 67), Blakstad 6 (Westin, 67), Tandberg 5 (Vallotto, 85).
Bookings: Lennartsson (44).
Substitutes not used: Edrud, Andersson, Gibson, Amano. 
Referee: Frida Klarlund.

09:56 PM GMT

FULL TIME: Man City 2 Hammarby 0

All over at the Joie Stadium and it is another victory for City. They are three wins from three in Europe.

They made hard work of it at time but an improved second half performance got the job done.

09:52 PM GMT

90+2mins: Man City 2 Hammarby 0

Man City subs

OFF Park, Greenwood
ON Coombs, Prior

09:50 PM GMT

90mins: Man City 2 Hammarby 0

Four minutes added on.

09:48 PM GMT

88mins: Man City 2 Hammarby 0

Chance for a consolation is squandered by Hammarby when the ball breaks to Vallotto in the box and she sidefoots wide.

Had to make the keeper make a save at the very least.

Man City subs

OFF Shaw
ON Murphy

09:45 PM GMT

85mins: Man City 2 Hammarby 0

Hammarby subs

OFF Tandberg
ON Vallotto

09:43 PM GMT

82mins: Man City 2 Hammarby 0

That will do it!

Finally, it’s a goal for Fujino - who, until this point, had done basically everything but score.

It’s her second goal for the club and she scores it in great style, with a diving header to send the ball home.

09:42 PM GMT

80mins: Man City 2 Hammarby 0 GOAL

Fujino finally gets her goal. She’s been threatening it all game but from Kennedy’s left wing cross, Fujino ducks low to meet it and power a header past Tamminen. That was her final touch of the match and it was a decisive one.

Man City subs:

OFF Fujino, Blindkilde
ON Kelly, Roord

09:37 PM GMT

77mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

The away fans might still think they can get something from this - Hammarby have worked themselves back into this game in the past few minutes after a period dominated by the hosts.

Tandberg meets a cross from Joramo and heads it towards the City goal but it is saved comfortably by Yamashita.

However Hammarby then have three corners in quick succession - their best chance comes from the second one as Yamashita tips Sorbo’s attempt just over the bar.

A sense of nervousness is starting to grow among the home fans - their team needs to get another goal fairly quickly to feel truly comfortable in their lead.

09:36 PM GMT

75mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

What a miss by Fujino. Another cut back, this time by Blindkilde evades everyone and falls to Fujino at the back post and she fires over the bar.

09:34 PM GMT

73mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

Hammarby have been energised by their recent subs and earned themselves another corner after good work down the right.

And they almost get their reward when Sorbo drills a shot from distance which is tipped over by Yamashita. Fine save.

09:31 PM GMT

70mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

Finally a shot on target for Hammarby. A cross is swung into the box and Tandberg gets above her marker and directs a header towards goal which is saved by Yamashita.

09:28 PM GMT

67mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

Hammarby subs

OFF Blakstad, Hasund
ON Westin, Josendal

09:22 PM GMT

60mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

Credit to the Hammarby fans. They have not stopped singing and banging their drums despite the poor quality on the pitch from their players.

09:16 PM GMT

55mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

Hammarby subs

OFF Miyagawa, Andersson
ON Sorbo, Holmberg

09:15 PM GMT

52mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0

Now that they are trailing, we need to see more from Hammarby in an attacking sense but so far it is just not there. Whenever they get a chance to relieve the pressure they give the ball away and back come City.

09:09 PM GMT

47mins: Man City 1 Hammarby 0 GOAL

Just the start City would have wanted. They have come out with more intensity, slicker passing and got their reward. A ball across the Hammarby box evades everyone and falls to Fowler, who pulls the ball back for Blindkilde to finish first time off the post.

It’s the 21-year-old’s first Champions League goal and chants of “Blinkie, blinkie, blinkie!” ring round the Joie Stadium.

09:08 PM GMT

SECOND HALF: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Important 45mins coming up for City. They need to up the tempo and move through the gears if they want all three points.

08:54 PM GMT

Ella Nunn’s half time verdict

The visitors will go into the break with some confidence. City dominated the ball and created a few chances, but the best one of the half actually fell to Hammarby in the 39th minute when Miyagawa blazed her effort over from close range.

Just the one shot on target from the hosts in the opening 45 minutes - they need to be far more ruthless in the second half if they’re going to get something from this game.

08:49 PM GMT

HALF TIME: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

First corner of the match for Hammarby in the final minute but City get the ball clear.

And at the break, the away side will be much happier as they go in goalless. Worryingly for City, Shaw limps off in visible discomfort.

08:48 PM GMT

44mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Lennartsson is shown the first yellow card of the match for pulling Kennedy’s shirt.

From the resulting free-kick, Hammarby clear the danger and we enter two minutes of added time.

08:45 PM GMT

43mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Shaw goes down again and looks in some pain next to the goal post after meeting Fowler’s cross from the right.

She was caught by Tamminen as they both went for the ball and ended up on the floor receiving treatment.

A stretcher is brought out, but to the relief of the home fans, it appears to be a precautionary measure as the striker gets up and looks well enough to continue.

Shaw has been absolutely vital to City’s unbeaten start to the 24/25 campaign, scoring 10 times already in all competitions.

With Vivianne Miedema also out, it wouldn’t be particularly surprising if she doesn’t play the full 90 tonight - Gareth Taylor surely has his team’s upcoming weekend tie against WSL champions Chelsea in the back of his mind.

08:42 PM GMT

39mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

What a chance for Hammarby. They finally spend some time in City’s half as they break forward. The ball is played into the box and Blakstad can’t get her shot away. The loose ball falls to Miyagawa but she blazes over from close range. Had to get that on target.

08:38 PM GMT

36mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Interestingly, Fowler and Fujino have swapped wings. Perhaps now they will get more joy. And fortunately for City, Shaw is back on the pitch after that knock to her ankle.

08:35 PM GMT

32mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Shaw is down again and holding her ankle after a teasing ball by Fowler into the box. Tamminen flies out of her goal and makes contact with the City player but no foul is given.

08:31 PM GMT

28mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Finally Tamminen in the Hammarby is called into action. Another cross is swung into the Hammarby box. Shaw can’t get her head onto it but the ball falls to Fowler, who shifts the ball to her left and shoots but Tamminen makes a comfortable save.

08:26 PM GMT

23mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Neither goalkeeper has had to make a serious save so far. It’s all been very passive from City while Hammarby seem very happy to let them have the ball.

But just as I say that, the ball is swung and Fujino meets it at the far post but blazes over. Came to her quickly but probably should have done better.

08:24 PM GMT

21mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

There’s some concern as Bunny Shaw is caught between two Hammarby defenders and goes down in the centre of the pitch. To to the relief of home fans she’s back up after a few seconds and seems okay to play on.

City have certainly dominated in these opening stages but that’s not to say Hammarby haven’t looked dangerous when they’ve gained possession. They’re very quick but are spending the majority of the time chasing the ball - City are pressing them hard.

As expected, the away fans are in full voice, have been chanting since minute one, and are vocally appealing every decision and loose ball. The atmosphere is great.

20 minutes gone and no breakthrough yet.

08:18 PM GMT

15mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Shaw is down in the centre circle after a coming together but she looks OK to continue.

08:15 PM GMT

12mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Most of the noise at the Joie Stadium is coming from the away fans.

Andersson is all over Fowler and drags her back to commit the foul. Should be an easy yellow for the Hammarby defence but she avoids punishment.

08:10 PM GMT

7mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

Yet to see Hammarby in an attacking situation with City dominating possession. Whenever City do lose the ball, they press very quickly to get it back.

08:05 PM GMT

3mins: Man City 0 Hammarby 0

As expected City are dominating the ball early on here. They are probing for the space to create a chance.

08:02 PM GMT

Kick Off: Man City vs Hammarby

The visitors get this match underway. Can they cause a major upset and send their fans home happy?!

07:57 PM GMT

Hammarby fans are already providing a great atmosphere

07:34 PM GMT

Taylor makes three changes to City’s starting line-up

Gareth Taylor has made three changes to the team that beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 in the Women’s Super League on Friday.

Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, who scored a hat-trick against the north London team, keeps her spot upfront while Jill Roord, the other goalscorer in that match, drops to the bench.

Lauren Hemp bagged three assists against Tottenham but is unavailable for tonight’s fixture and so Mary Fowler and Laura Blinkilde Brown both come into the starting line-up.

Goalkeeper Khiara Keating has dropped to the bench with Ayaka Yamashita, who did well in City’s Champions League win against Barcelona, starting against the Swedish side.

There is a familiar face in the visitor’s lineup tonight, with Julie Blakstad, the former City player, starting in midfield. She left City in January 2024 after two years with the club, during which she scored 10 goals.

Manchester City Women

Yamashita, Casparij, Kennedy, Greenwood, Ouahabi, Park, Hasegawa, Blindkilde, Fujino, Shaw, Fowler.
Substitutes: Keating, Startup, Coombs, Kelly, Roord, Prior, Thomas, Murphy, O’Carroll.

Hammarby Women

Tamminen, Lennartsson, Carlsson, Nystrom, Jonna Andersson, Joramo, Miyagawa, Wangerheim, Hasund, Blakstad, Tandberg.
Substitutes: Edrud, Sorbo, Gibson, Josendal, Vallotto, Bella Andersson, Amano, Westin, Holmberg.

07:30 PM GMT

Hammarby ready to bring the noise

We are expecting an electric atmosphere at the Joie Stadium this evening, as Manchester City host Hammarby in the Women’s Champions League.

Hammarby supporters are known as Bajen and they are renowned for their colourful tifos and well-choreographed chants.

A Facebook post from a Bajen appears to show that City have allowed them to bring their drum to the stadium this evening – allegedly Benefica did not allow them to do so in the qualifiers. The post by Harold Cardenas also says that City bumped up the away team’s ticket allocation from 400 to 700, after the mandatory 5 per cent share immediately sold out.

Videos posted on X show the fans making their voices heard around the city in the build-up to the game this afternoon – it is going to be a loud one.

07:25 PM GMT

City welcome Swedes to Manchester

Hello and welcome to coverage from the Women’s Champions League as Manchester City host Hammarby at the Joie Stadium.

The Women’s Super League side are back in the Champions League proper this term after a three-year absence and sit top of their group, three points ahead of their opponents after beating Barcelona 2-0 in the opening round.

City manager Gareth Taylor says his team, who have won their last six league matches in their unbeaten start to the season, are fully prepared to attack Hammarby’s weaknesses.

Taylor said: “A partisan crowd that will make a lot of noise, we’re expecting a tough challenge tomorrow, there’s no doubt. We’re fully aware of the strengths and areas we can exploit in the opposition.

“We try to make it about us and where we feel the important parts of the game are going to be.

“They’re a team that are capable on certain games, they were the only team to beat Rosengard in their title winning season, and one of our former players Julie [Blakstad] is there as well, so we keep an eye on those games to see how she’s doing.

“It’s a big game for us and an important one. We’re pleased to be back home and looking forward to the challenge.”

City will be without Vivianne Miedema again after she had another operation on her troublesome left knee last month.

Hammarby have a reputation for vibrant travelling support and Taylor said: “I think it’s a good thing.

”We had a good experience in the Etihad Stadium on Friday night against Tottenham (in the Women’s Super League when they won 4-0), where we were able to go to a wider audience.

”We love playing at the Joie Stadium and, if that away support is good and noisy then that’s great, it makes for a better atmosphere.”