The women's Champions League is preparing for a historic debut: that of Real Madrid. A premiere with great incentive as it is a club that has shone in its men's division with the highest record in this competition. The white ones appear in Europe a year after seeing the light of official way, obtaining the classification to the continental tournament after finishing runner-up in the League in their first season of history. And they do it with what aims to be a great match against Manchester City.
The English box will be the Real Madrid's first historical rival in the Champions League, in which both teams will seek to advance to the group stage after winning the two-legged tie in Round 2. A qualifying round to which the Spaniards arrive after having had no luck in the draw held this Sunday, being paired with the powerful English club.
Manchester City, with more experience than Real Madrid
And it is that the City was one of the 'coconuts' to avoid in his painting, in which yes they could dodge the almighty Olympique de Lyon, who will face Levante. The English team is not the most difficult team to beat to start the road in Europe, but it does present a great threat to Madrid. Champion of the Women's Premier in 2016, Manchester City are one of the best teams in the English League, in which they have been runners-up in recent years. In addition, he has three trophies from the FA WSL Cup and another three from the FA Cup, all won in recent years.
The British play with a great advantage against Real Madrid: experience. With a squad accustomed to playing knockout rounds both in the Champions League and at the National Team level, City knows how to cope with ease in this type of match. A fact that remains to be known about Real Madrid, that He faces the tie (August 31 and September 1, the first leg, and September 8 or 9, the return) without having started the season in the League (September 4).
Founded in 1988, Manchester City Women debuted in First Division in 2014 thanks to an administrative promotion and winning a League Cup on his debut. The 'citizens' team qualified for this edition of the Champions League as runner-up in the Premier League, which was raised by Chelsea, and does not want to be eliminated again at the hands of a Spanish team, as happened the previous year.
Then, Gareth Taylor's were knocked out by Barça in the quarterfinals. The English team was not enough to win 2-1 against the Catalans in the return leg of said tie, which started with a resounding 3-0 by the Catalans in Barcelona. A fact that frustrated their attempts to reach their first Champions League final, on whose doors they have stayed three times after reaching the European semifinals.
The City dressing room: Ellen White, former blue Vicky Losada …
In its squad, Manchester City has stars contrasted worldwide, with a large number of internationals from the England national team (Ellen White, Jill Scott, Lucy Bronze …). These are footballers who have been widely shot in high-level matches like this tie and who stand out for their great punch. In this sense, the great scorers to follow will be Chloe Kelly and veteran Ellen White, his two references in the attack last year.
For its part, the English box also has Spanish representation in its ranks. This is Vicky Losada, who signed for the English team this summer after captaining Barça to the League, Cup and Champions triplet. The Catalan midfielder joined a team that has also been reinforced with the arrivals of Ruby Mace, Australian Hayley Raso or Khadija Shaw, who will debut in the Women's Super League after growing up in the United States and France.
The fit of them is also unknown. Like Madrid, City will start the League on September 4 and it is not known how the team will reach the European tie, which aims to leave a great game. It only remains to wait for the ball to start rolling on August 31 or September 1 (the schedules have not yet been defined). The appointment will be very important for Madrid and for Spanish women's football, which hopes to increase its representation payroll in the group stage, where Barça awaits.