Hammarby's Smilla Vallotto, left, and Barcelona's Ewa Pajor during the Champions League group D women's soccer match between Hammarby IF and FC Barcelona at Stockholm Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Jonas Ekströmer/TT via AP)
STOCKHOLM (AP) — Two-time defending champion Barcelona clinched the last quarterfinal spot in the Women’s Champions League by beating Hammarby 3-0 in Stockholm on Thursday.
Ewa Pajor fired Barcelona ahead with two first-half goals from close range and Aitana Bonmatí finished it off 10 minutes before the final whistle.
Following a 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the opening group stage game, Barcelona scored 23 goals in the following four games and conceded one.
Man City defeated St. Pölten 2-0 to keep a perfect record and lead Group D with 15 points. Barcelona is three points behind and will host City next Wednesday in the final group game.
In Group C, Alessia Russo scored twice and Arsenal beat last-place Vålerenga 3-1 to keep pressure on group leader Bayern Munich.
Barcelona’s Ewa Pajor, left, celebrates scoring during the Champions League group D women’s soccer match between Hammarby IF and FC Barcelona at Stockholm Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Jonas Ekströmer/TT via AP)
Arsenal produced another dominant display under interim coach Renée Slegers.
Frida Maanum also scored for Arsenal and set up Russo’s opener.
Vålerenga, which retained its domestic league title and just claimed the Norwegian Cup to complete a double, got a consolation goal from substitute Tilde Lindwall.
Bayern routed Juventus 4-0 to lead the group with 13 points, one ahead of Arsenal. The two will clash over the top spot in London next week.
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí, left, and Hammarby’s Smilla Vallotto in action during the Champions League group D women’s soccer match between Hammarby IF and FC Barcelona at Stockholm Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Jonas Ekströmer/TT via AP)Barcelona’s Clàudia Pina and Hammarby’s Ellen Wangerheim, right, in action during the Champions League group D women’s soccer match between Hammarby IF and FC Barcelona at Stockholm Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Jonas Ekströmer/TT via AP)Bayern’s Klara Buhl, centre, scores her side’s third goal during the Women’s Champions League group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Juventus in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)Bayern’s Klara Buhl, left, celebrates with Pernille Harder, centre, and Lea Schuller after scoring their side’s third goal during the Women’s Champions League group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Juventus in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)Bayern’s players celebrate after Klara Buhl scored their side’s third goal during the Women’s Champions League group C soccer match between Bayern Munich and Juventus in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (Peter Kneffel/dpa via AP)Manchester City’s Aoba Fujino, right, and St Polten’s Ella Touon battle for the ball during a UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match at the Manchester City Academy Stadium, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in Manchester, England. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)Manchester City’s Codie Thomas celebrates after winning the women’s Champions League Group D soccer match between Manchester City and ST. Poelten at the Manchester City Academy Stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)Manchester City’s Kerstin Casparij, top left, scores his side’s second goal during the women’s Champions League Group D soccer match between Manchester City and ST. Poelten at the Manchester City Academy Stadium in Manchester, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)Valerenga’s Olaug Tvedten, right, and Arsenal’s Katie Reid in action during the Champions League soccer match between Vålerenga and Arsenal at Intility Arena, Oslo, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Terje Bendiksby/NTB via AP) / NTBVålerenga’s Ylinn Tennebø, right, and Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey in action during the Champions League soccer match between Vålerenga and Arsenal at Intility Arena, Oslo, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Terje Bendiksby/NTB via APVålerenga’s Karina Sævik, right, and Arsenal’s Laia Codina in action during the Champions League soccer match between Vålerenga and Arsenal at Intility Arena, Oslo, Thursday Dec. 12, 2024. (Terje Bendiksby/NTB via AP
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.
