FC Barcelona Women v FC Twente: Hermoso beauty gives first leg advantage (1-0)

FC Barcelona Women earned a 1-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League last 16 tie against Twente thanks to a wonder goal from Jenni Hermoso.

Barça were by far the more convincing side and would have liked to have grabbed a second to take with them into the return leg but the win, without conceding a goal, was the primary objective.

Both teams started intensely, looking to get  a foothold of the game, but it was Xavi Llorens’ side who posed the problems early on.

And with that pressure came the opener, which was a goal to remember. Hermoso lifted the ball over the oncoming defender before unleashing a powerful volley into the top corner. It was her fourth goal of the European campaign this season, and it was one that she will treasure for a long time.

Hermoso almost became provider soon after but Putellas had the ball taken off her just as she was about to strike by the defender.

In the second half, Barça went in search of securing a comfier advantage. The chances continued to come, as Olga García had a goalbound effort blocked for a corner before Hermoso came close to her personal second on 68 minutes but her strike whistled past the post.

Bárbara, on as a second-half sub, thought she made it 2-0 after converting a rebound from a free-kick, only for her to see the linesman rule the goal out for offside.

In the end, Barça had to settle for the 1-0 win, but the manner of the performance and the fact they did not concede a goal will give the side confidence for the second match.