Lionesses shine as Man City hit Kazahkhstani outfit for six ahead of Real Madrid clash

Lauren Hemp got on the scoresheet and fellow Euro 2022-winning winger Chloe Kelly also impressed with an assist as the first six of this summer's triumphant Lionesses returned to competitive action in confident style in a routine victory for Manchester City over Kazakhstani outfit Tomiris-Turan.

The Women's Champions League first-round qualifier in Madrid saw Manchester City head coach Gareth Taylor start five of his team's Euros winners, 18 days since England's historic victory over Germany at Wembley.

As well as the lively Hemp and Kelly, midfielder Keira Walsh, defender Alex Greenwood and goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck were all in solid form too, while left-back Demi Stokes was introduced as a second-half substitute, in much more low-key surroundings at Real Madrid's training ground.

Man City's seventh member of this summer’s victorious 23-strong Lionesses squad, striker Ellen White, did not travel to Spain for personal reasons. In her absence, Jamaica striker Khadija Shaw headed in two well-taken first-half goals. The opener saw her angle in Hemp's cross from the left, before she turned in from Kelly's right-wing delivery.

That dynamic front three then combined for the third goal in first-half stoppage time, with Shaw feeding Hemp to slot in from close range, in a game the English side controlled from the start.

City also gave debuts to four of their summer signings in their starting line-up. Spain centre-back Laia Aleixandri, who signed from Atletico Madrid, spread possession well and combined nicely with Holland right-back Kerstin Casparij, also 21, who arrived from FC Twente. 

Spain left-back Leila Ouahabi also had a good workout following her move from Barcelona, while Australia's 19-year-old former Montpellier star