The visitors opened the scoring early through Caroline Graham Hansen and doubled their lead through Vicky Lopez ahead of the half-time whistle.
However, Andrée Jeglertz’s side battled back following the break and halved the deficit through Alex Greenwood’s composed strike shortly after the interval.
Grace Clinton’s then equalised before the Blues almost found a winner through Freya Hirons – but City’s latest summer test ended in an eventful draw at the Joie Stadium.
WHAT HAPPENED
City’s first outing at the Joie Stadium since sealing the league and cup double in 2025/26 was a fitting friendly in front of a bumper crowd against Barcelona.
But the Liga F outfit quickly imprinted the quality which saw them lose just once in 48 outings last term en route to winning four trophies, including the Champions League.
Graham Hansen opened the scoring when she drilled low into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box before Lopez doubled the advantage when driving into the box, playing a neat give-and-go and curling into the top left corner.
Jeglertz’s team collected six WSL points from losing positions last season and fought back after half-time after slight tactical tweaks from our Head Coach.
After deploying Greenwood further up the field, she pulled a goal back when Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw burst down the wing before squaring to the England international who dispatched confidently.
City were then injected with fresh attacking impetus and constructed a fantastic move to level when Laura Blindkilde Brown threaded the ball to Clinton who took a touch inside the area and curled into the bottom corner.
The hosts were then in the ascendency and Millie Burdon had the ball in the net, but only for the offside flag to rule out the special moment for our Next Gen midfielder.
And Freya Hirons then came close in the closing stages when her effort whistled past the post as the entertaining friendly ended in a draw.
NEVER GIVE UP
A common theme which underpinned City’s double-winning campaign in 2025/26 was the Blues ability to fight back in the face of adversity.
And that was on show again against the reigning European champions when coming from two goals down to earn a draw in front of a bumper Joie Stadium crowd.
With both teams making a number of changes after the interval, we snatched the initiative and prevented the visitors from creating dangerous opportunities while architecting our own which saw Greenwood and Clinton’s goals earn us a draw.
FLEXIBILITY
With City’s strength in depth, Jeglertz’s was able to make tactical tweaks to his side while also changing personnel.
With the substitutions made, however, the hosts’ high standards remained which is yet another positive ahead of a 2026/27 term with more matches meaning rotation will be key.
Another highlight from the draw with Barcelona, which followed on from the friendly with Fiorentina, was the members of our Next Gen squad who stepped up to the challenge of Romeu’s team at the Joie.
HOW WE LINED UP
CITY XI: Yamashita (Cuming 62’), Casparij (Lewis 62’), Rose (Prior 62’), Knaak (Davies 62’), Greenwood (C (Shimizu 62’), Coffey (Hasegawa 46’), Blindkilde Brown, Fujino (Davis 62’), Clinton (Burdon 80’), Hemp (Fowler 62’), Shaw (Hirons 62’).
Unused substitutes: Walker.
Barcelona XI: Coll, Fernandez, Paredes, Van Asten, Brugts, Lopez, Schertenleib, Guijarro, Pina, Hansen, Pajor.
Substitutes: Font, Martinez, Llorella, Quer, Torrejon, Marin, Arufe, Ohlander, Ferrera, Pennock, Baha, Cano, McCamey, Magdaleno.
WHAT’S NEXT
City’s preseason preparations will continue ahead of our first Barclays Women’s Super League assignment in 2026/27.
Andrée Jeglertz’s side welcome Birmingham to the Joie Stadium for our curtain raiser on Sunday 6 September, with kick-off scheduled for 14:30 (UK).
