Barca Femeni Pull Comeback To Defeat Real Madrid In UCL First Leg

Barca Femeni completed a comeback against Real Madrid from 1-0 in the first half to score three goals in the second and take control of this Champions League quarter-final. 

The advantage could have been extended in the second half but Barca still bring a healthy lead to the return leg next Wednesday, March 30 at Camp Nou.

This replicated the same victory the Barcelona men's team enjoyed barely three days ago when they thrashed Real Madrid men's team 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu with the female sides wearing the same jersey colours.

The game began with high pressing from Real Madrid, finding ways over and through the Barca defence. This bore fruit as Esther González carried the ball forward, slid the ball out to the left and Olga Carmona finished across Paños from inside the area. 

Barca Women missing Asisat Oshoala, couldn't find their rhythm and didn't have their first shot until 26 minutes when Misa saved well down to her right from a Patri shot from the edge of the area.

Barca were starting to find their feet, but Real Madrid continued to threaten and the lively Esther González hit the post on the 38th minute before Paños saved another of her shots. 1-0 at half time.

In the second half, Barca were very different and more comfortable with a penalty awarded six minutes in after VAR intervention. 

Skipper Alexia smashed it into the right side of the goal to level the match. Esther remained a threat for the home side as the match was in the balance.

Barca gradually assumed control, creating opportunities, but that elusive second goal wouldn't come. 

Paredes returned from injury to join Mapi Leon at the heart of the defence. The chances kept coming but it wasn't until the 81st minute when Pina stepped onto a rebound after an Aitana shot to shoot low and hard past Misa to make it 1-2.

The world's best female player still had time to complete her brace, Alexia delightfully lifting the ball over Misa to take a much more comfortable scoreline back to the Camp Nou for the Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday, March 30.