Arsenal held defending champions Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in the Women's Champions League at Camp Nou on Thursday. BBC Sport said the result extends Arsenal's unbeaten start in the competition to four matches. It also lifts Renee Slegers' side into the top four, a strong position for automatic qualification to the knockout stages.
Arsenal scored against the run of play in the first half, the Nile Post reported. Alessia Russo spun in behind the Barcelona defence and set up Caitlin Foord. Foord's shot rebounded to Frida Maanum, who fired past goalkeeper Cata Coll. Barcelona went into the break 1-0 down despite 18 shots, 12 of them from inside the box.
Arsenal goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez was called into action again and again. Most of Barcelona's chances came from Caroline Graham Hansen on the right. Barcelona raised the pressure after the break. Three-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati had been surprisingly left out of the starting line-up. Minutes after she came off the bench, Graham Hansen drilled in a superb equaliser.
Barcelona failed to push on for a winner, and Arsenal grew in confidence as their defending improved. The Nile Post said the London side had put aside worrying form in the Women's Super League to earn the point. BBC Sport called it a dogged display and asked whether it could be a turning point in Arsenal's season.
According to the Nile Post, Arsenal have seven points from their opening four league phase matches. They face Lyon next week.