Juventus Women’s hopes of progressing in the Women’s Champions League are hanging by a thread after they slipped to a 2-0 home defeat against to last year’s runners-up Barcelona.
The Italian champions are bidding to make it through the last-32 stage for the first time after losing to Danish side Brondby last year but fell behind six minutes before half-time when Alexia Putellas found the net. Former England striker Eni Aluko was introduced off the bench in the second-half but could not find a way through Barcelona’s defence, with Marta Torrejón adding a second 20 minutes from time.
Juventus FC Women
(@JuventusFCWomen)FT | ⏱ | Down but not out… it’s only the midway point! #JuveBarça #ForzaJuve #FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/tEvQdbzz9v
There was a moment of controversy before the final whistle when Aluko was brought down by María Pilar León when through on goal and the Barcelona defender was shown a red card but Juventus failed to take advantage and face an uphill task for the return leg on 25 September.
Elsewhere, Scottish champions Glasgow City secured an impressive 1-0 away victory over Russians Chertanovo Moscow thanks to Hayley Lauder’s early strike but Hibernian lost 4-1 at home by Slavia Prague. Reigning champions Lyon, who beat Barcelona in last season’s final to win a fourth successive European crown, coasted to a 9-0 away win over Ryazan-VDV thanks to a hat-trick from Ada Hegerberg.
