A GLOUCESTER born player had a night to remember last night against a footballing giant. 

Naomi Layzell, the 20-year-old defender signed from Bristol City in the summer, put the Manchester City in front against holders Barcelona with a 36th-minute finish, the first goal of her career.

Layzell - who is an alumni of Stroud and South Gloucestershire College -  then added an assist to her memorable evening when she set up Khadija Shaw’s strike with 13 minutes of normal time to go, before sustaining an injury late on.

On Layzell, who has trained with the senior England squad, manager Gareth Taylor said: “It was a weird action.

"My first instinct was I hope that’s not an Achilles, but she seems to be kind of OK, presenting more like a rolled ankle, but hasn’t actually rolled it. At the moment our physios are fairly positive.

“But second Champions League game (having played in the qualifying round), scoring and assisting against Barcelona, playing out of position – unbelievable.

“It is special. If you get to know Naomi, you’d probably say it doesn’t surprise you. She takes on information very well."

City’s Group D opener saw them making their comeback having not played in the competition proper since a 2020-21 quarter-final second leg against Barca at the same venue, which they won 2-1, but lost the tie 4-2 on aggregate.

The Catalan side claimed the trophy that season and have featured in each of the three finals since, winning the last two.