Manchester City made a stunning return to the Women's Champions League, defeating defending champions Barcelona 2-0 in their group stage opener. City took the lead with a goal from Naomi Layzell, who capitalized on a header from Vivianne Miedema just before halftime. Khadija Shaw sealed the victory with a second goal, showcasing City's dominance against the Spanish giants. This win marks City's first appearance in the group stage since the 2020-21 season and is only Barcelona's second defeat in 19 group stage games since its introduction. In another match, Bayern Munich triumphed over Arsenal with a 5-2 victory, including a hat-trick from Pernille Harder. Overall, City’s impressive performance positions them favorably in their group as they aim for knockout stage qualification.