MADRID — Barcelona powered into a commanding 6-2 lead on rivals Real Madrid in an all-Spanish women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg yesterday.
Pere Romeu’s side, who have dominated the competition in recent years, moved two goals ahead through Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts inside 13 minutes.
Linda Caicedo pulled one back for hosts Real Madrid at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium but Irene Paredes quickly restored Barca’s two-goal lead.
Pajor and Vicky Lopez netted in the second half before Caicedo struck again for Madrid to give them some faint hope. Alexia Putellas added a late penalty to leave the Catalans with one foot firmly in the semi-finals.
“We know there are things to improve, as always, and that’s always what we’re looking for, right? To get closer to excellence,” Putellas told TV3.
“We already want the game at Camp Nou to arrive, with our fans, and there are still 90 minutes to go, but we’re very happy with today’s result.”
Barca, now unbeaten in their last 25 games across all competitions, finished runners-up to Arsenal last season.
The three-time winners have reached five straight finals and are on the brink of an eighth consecutive semi-final, without injured three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.
Instead it was two-time winner Putellas who created the opener for Barca’s top scorer Pajor.
Patri Guijarro’s clever dink over the top allowed Putellas to square for Pajor to stab her fifth Champions League goal this season into an empty net.
Lopez’s looping cross was met by Brugts for Barca’s second, with Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez pushing the ball into the air but it dropped down and over the line, with defender Maelle Lakrar unable to keep it out.
Pajor should have extended Barca’s lead but, through on goal, took the ball too close to Rodriguez who managed to knock it to safety.
A few minutes later Pau Quesada’s Madrid pulled one back through Caicedo, who got in behind Barca’s defence, rounded goalkeeper Cata Coll and fired home.
Madrid’s happiness was short-lived as two minutes later Paredes restored Barca’s advantage with a towering header from a corner.
