Bayern, Man City Win Again in Women's Champions League. Arsenal, Barcelona Rebound from Setbacks

Bayern Munich and Manchester City extended their winning starts in the Women’s Champions League group stage on Wednesday, while Arsenal and Barcelona rebounded from early-season setbacks with big victories.
One day after Arsenal’s coach Jonas Eidevall resigned, the team took just one minute to score in a 4-1 win over Norwegian team Vålerenga. United States defender Emily Fox’s goal after exactly 60 seconds set Arsenal on its way for interim manager Renée Slegers.
Arsenal lost 5-2 in Munich one week ago and Bayern impressed again, winning a rain-soaked game 2-0 at Juventus.
The statement win last week was Man City beating Barcelona, but the two-time defending champion was back in dominant form in a 9-0 drubbing of Sweden's Hammarby.
Man City rallied from an uneasy spell either side of halftime at St. Pölten to win 3-2 in Austria, sealed by an 80th-minute header by Mary Fowler.
Arsenal revival Arsenal’s start to October had been about as bad as it gets. Winless in two home games in the English Women’s Super League, including a 2-1 loss to city rival Chelsea; a 5-2 beating by Bayern; then losing the coach who helped it reach the Champions League semifinals two seasons ago.
But after Fox’s quick finish, Arsenal added a second in the 29th by Caitlin Foord after Vålerenga goalkeeper Tove Enblom’s save diverted the ball to the Australia forward at the back post.
The Norwegians cut the lead in the 35th when Arsenal’s Spanish defender Laia Cadina was robbed of the ball and Olaug Tvedten finished with a well-placed shot.
Arsenal endured tense moments in the second half until Spain forward Mariona ensured the win in the 85th, taking an unselfish pass from Stina Blackstenius. Alessia Russo capped the scoring in stoppage time.
Harder makes it easy Bayern forward Pernille Harder again scored late to add to her 13-minute hat trick last week against Arsenal.
The Denmark veteran pounced on a loose ball in the goalmouth after a corner in the 73rd. It was a near-copy of how Bayern opened the scoring in the 17th when a scramble in the goalmouth led to Linda Dallman’s volleyed shot.
Bayern’s two wins in Group C have bookended its first loss in the German league in almost two years, 2-0 against two-time European champion Wolfsburg on Saturday.
City keeps momentum The most spectacular goal of the four games Wednesday came within five minutes of Man City’s game in Austria.
Australia defender Alanna Kennedy fired in a powerful 25-yard (meter) shot that went in off the inside of the post. Man City then struck the woodwork twice in a five-minute spell as it looked to take control.
Then St. Pölten leveled in the 40th, from another loose ball following a corner, that Melanie Brunnthaler reacted fastest to with a close-range shot.
St. Pölten relied on a series of saves by goalkeeper Carina Schlüter before taking the lead in the 53rd, when Czech midfielder Kamila Dubcová received the ball with her back to goal and spun to volley a rising left-foot shot.
Four minutes later Man City was level when Aoba Fujino met a looping cross toward the far post with a first-time shot.
Barcelona back to its best Barcelona was imperious one week after being caught cold in the first half in Manchester. Swedish champion Hammarby, which beat St. Pölten 2-0 last week, caught the backlash.
Caroline Graham Hansen started the flood of goals in the 10th, and the Norway forward was joined by Claudia Pina scoring twice among seven players on the scoresheet. Alexia Putellas got the third with a neatly guided header.
It was not even Barcelona’s biggest win this season at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Granada was beaten 10-1 in a domestic league game last month.

Scotland frustrated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in a 0-0 draw at Hampden on Tuesday to avoid losing five consecutive competitive games for the first time ever.

The home side needed a wonder save from Craig Gordon to deny Bruno Fernandes a winner in the closing stages, but held out to secure their first point in the top tier of the Nations League.

Portugal remain on top of Group A1 but were made to wait to book their place in March's quarter-finals.

On his 216th international appearance, Ronaldo made his 200th start for his country, more than 21 years on from his first.

However, the 39-year-old failed to add to his 133 Portugal goals and stormed off the field at full-time ranting at the officials, according to AFP.

Scotland have won just one of their last 16 games - a 2-0 friendly victory over Gibraltar in June - and remain without a victory in a competitive match for over a year.

But Steve Clarke's men battled hard to stop the rot in Glasgow.

Scotland even had the best chance of the first half inside the opening five minutes when Scott McTominay headed too close to Diogo Costa from point-blank range.

Portugal quickly took control of possession without creating clear-cut chances.

Francisco Conceicao spooned over early in the second period from Ronaldo's lay-off.

Ronaldo then fired inches wide after making himself room for a shot amid a flurry of desperate challenges from Scottish defenders.

But it was Fernandes who had the best chance to claim all three points when the Manchester United captain's powerful low strike was brilliantly parried by Gordon and collected at the second attempt by the 41-year-old goalkeeper.

Scotland are still on course for relegation from the top tier of the Nations League as they trail Poland, who drew 3-3 with Croatia, by three points with two games remaining.

Croatia sit second, three points behind the Portuguese, who they host next month.

Bayern, Man City Win Again in Women's Champions League. Arsenal, Barcelona Rebound from Setbacks