Arsenal lost for the first time since February as Barcelona’s Asisat Oshoala haunted her old club in their Women’s Champions League Group C opener.
Despite bossing Arsenal in the opening half, Barcelona didn’t score until shortly after the half-hour (31mins), when Mariona Caldentey fired home on the follow-up after a shot from Asisat Oshoala was saved by Manuela Zinsberger.
Eleven minutes after, the four-time African Player of the year ran down the right wing and squared it for Alexia Putellas to slot home moments before the break.
The 26-year old Nigerian international got her name on the scoresheet early in the second half, getting in behind the Arsenal defence and left one-on-one with Zinsberger who has been more than impressive for the night, as she slot home Barcelona’s third, before making way in the 70th minute for Lieke Martens.
Oshoala played for Arsenal from March 2016 to February 2017, helping them to win the FA Cup, and did not celebrate her goal at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
It took Arsenal 55 minutes to have a shot, with Vivianne Miedema’s weak effort rolling straight to goalkeeper Sandra Panos.
Frida Maanum, who bundled home a consolation from Tobin Heath’s free-kick from the right before Lieke Martens chipped in Barca’s fourth.
Four minutes into the added time, Jordan Nobbs lunges in to try to win the ball from Alexia and referee Jana Adamkova blows her whistle and points to the spot.
Alexia Putellas stepped forward hoping to convert Barcelona’s fifth for the night but fired her effort down the centre, as the Arsenal goalkeeper was on her way left but not so quickly that she wasn’t able to save comfortably.
MOLATsportgist 