Barça Women 5-2 Real Madrid Femenino: Semi-final bound on a historic night!
A landmark game witnessed by a world record crowd for women’s football. The 91,553 spectators that watched this entertaining match in Camp Nou were treated to some finishes of the highest quality in a Clásico that ended 5-2 (aggregate score 8-3), guaranteeing Barça’s place in the Champions League semi-finals.
Coach Jonathon Giráldez selected an attacking line-up, with Pina coming in for Leila, meaning Rolfö started at left back. Let’s not forget that the side was still without key players like Asisat Oshoala, Lieke Martens, and Mariona Caldentey, among others.
Contrasting styles, even first half
After the wonderful mosaic in Camp Nou featuring the “More than Empowerment” slogan setting the scene, the first half began with Barça immediately taking control and dominating possession.
Real Madrid were pushing up to try to win the ball high up the pitch as in the first leg, but Barça appeared to have done their homework. There was always the out ball over the top, mainly to Graham Hansen on the right, with Pina tucking in to allow Rolfö to raid down the left.
It wasn’t long before the breakthrough came, María “Mapi” Leon swinging in a cross from the right on the 8th minute, the ball floating straight in over Misa who had come out to try to intercept. Real Madrid were handed a way back into the game soon after, Paredes giving away a penalty after a shot from Carmona, who scored the subsequent spot kick after 16 minutes.
A first half dominated by the home side, with 12 shots to 2, but the score remained even at the break.
Barça go through the gears
Real Madrid came out fighting in the second half, crowned by a superb strike from Zornoza, who lobbed Paños from just inside the Barça half on the 48th minute. This just seemed to spur Barça on - Graham Hansen with a good penalty shout soon after.
The equaliser came on the 52nd minute, Aitana receiving the ball from Jennifer Hermoso just outside the area on the right, touching it inside before hitting a left foot shot past Misa.
The floodgates were open; Rolfö attempted a cross from the left, which cannoned off a Real Madrid defender and fell nicely for Pina, who still had a lot of work to do. Her sumptuous left foot shot, lifted into the far right corner of the goal, made it 3-2 after 55 minutes.
Alèxia then scored on the 62nd minute after losing her marker and firing a cross shot that squirmed under Misa, just crossing the line despite a Real Madrid defender’s desperate attempt to keep it out. Alèxia’s 26th goal of the season and 8th in the Champions League, incredible!
Pina then fired just wide before Graham Hansen got the goal she deserved for her performance, Rolfö again driving down the left before her cross looped up off a Real Madrid defender, Graham Hansen finishing at the far post after 70 minutes for the 5th goal.
Both coaches then rang the changes to give their squads a taste of the electric atmosphere on such a momentous day for women’s football, and despite further attempts from both sides, the game ended 5-2. Barça scored 5 of their 6 shots on target, ruthless and effective!
A truly entertaining game for this world record crowd for an official women’s football match. ¡Visca Barça!
Match stats:
Barça Women, 5
Real Madrid Femenino, 2
Barça Women: Sandra Paños, Irene Paredes (Andrea Pereira, min. 81), María León, Claudia Pina (Melanie, min. 81), Graham (Patri Guijarro, min. 72), Marta Torrejón (Crnogorcevic, min. 72), J.Hermoso (Leila, min. 72), Alèxia Putellas, Patri, Aitana, Rolfö.
Real Madrid: Misa, Teresa (Claudia, min. 85), Peter (Rocío Gálvez, min. 74), Ivana, Olga (Caroline Moller, min. 66.), Oroz, Esther (Nahikari García, min. 66), Lucía, Zornoza, Athenea, Svava (Robles, min. 74).
Goals: 1-0, María León (min. 8); 1-1, Olga Carmona (min. 16); 1-2, Zornoza (min. 48); 2-2, Aitana Bonmatí (min. 52); 3-2, Claudia Pina (min. 55); 4-2, Alèxia Putellas (min. 62); 5-2, Graham Hansen (min. 70).
Referee: Stéphanie Frappart. Yellow cards for Irene Paredes and Alèxia Putellas from the home side and Lucia Rodríguez from the away side.