FC Barcelona, runners-up in 2024/25, moved closer to the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League with a dominant 6-2 away win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-finals.
Portuguese forward Kika Nazareth remained on the bench as the ‘blaugrana’ started strongly, taking a 2-0 lead within 13 minutes through goals by Poland’s Ewa Pajor (6’) and Netherlands’ Esmee Brugts (13’). Colombia’s Linda Caicedo pulled one back for Madrid in the 30th minute, but Irene Paredes restored Barcelona’s two-goal advantage (3-1) just before halftime.
In the second half, Barcelona extended their lead to 5-1 with goals from Pajor (57’) and Vicky López (64’). Caicedo scored again for Madrid (66’), but Alexia Putellas sealed the 6-2 win with a penalty in the 89th minute. The result marks Barcelona’s 22nd victory in 23 matches against Real Madrid, who have won just once and never kept a clean sheet.
This is the second time the two sides meet in the Champions League quarter-finals, with the outcome heading toward a repeat of 2021/22, when Barcelona advanced with a 3-1 away win and 5-2 at home. While Madrid has never progressed past the quarter-finals, reaching that stage three times in five appearances, Barcelona has won three titles (2020/21, 2022/23, 2023/24) and reached at least the semi-finals in the last seven editions.
Read more: Champions: Barcelona scores 7 and reach quarter-finals (with video)
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich also moved closer to the semi-finals for the third time, after 2018/19 and 2020/21, with a 3-2 away win at Manchester United in their first appearance at this stage.
Danish forward Pernille Harder scored twice for Bayern (2’, 71’), but Maya Le Tissier (24’, penalty) and Hanna Lundkvist (76’) equalized. Japanese forward Momoko Tanikawa scored the winner in the 84th minute. Bayern will host Manchester United on April 1, a day before Barcelona faces Madrid in the second leg.
