Barcelona 5-2 Real Madrid (8-3 agg): It’s Clasico bragging rights to the Catalans

Barcelona’s women have never lost a Clasico and they weren’t about to start on this historical night as they swept Real Madrid aside in front of more than 91,000 fans to book their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League. 

Real Madrid took an early lead in the first leg through Olga Carmona after just eight minutes but Barcelona learned their lesson as they nudged in front first at the Nou Camp and despite an early second half wobble they never looked back.

Mapi Leon set them on their way when she whipped an inswinging cross into the box but got too much on it – leaving goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez scrambling. 

Claudia Pina celebrates her goal on a night when Barcelona Women put five past Real Madrid

The defending Champions League winners are into the semi-finals and are on course to win it

It was a world record crowd for the women’s game of more than 91,000 at the Nou Camp

Rodriguez could do little as it sailed over her head and went in to put Barcelona 1-0 up and firmly in control. 

Real responded through Carmona as she showed great composure to convert from the penalty spot in the 16th minute.  

Barcelona were given a scare at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano in the first leg – needing a late brace from captain Alexia Putellas – and they got another here before the comfort kicked in with a late flurry of goals.

Nerves were jangling early in the second half when Claudia Zornoza produced a sensational strike from 35 yards out to lob a backtracking Sandra Paños in goal.  

But that would be where the smiles started and ended for Real Madrid as Aitana Bonmati, Claudia Pina, Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen all struck to round out a 5-2 rout on the night, leaving the score to read 8-3 on aggregate.  

Real Madrid gave Barcelona two scares to go 1-0 up, and then 2-1, but their efforts were in vain

Barcelona soon found their goalscoring touch and Aitana Bonmati (right) got one of them

Captain and star player Alexia Putellas even bowed to the crowd after she got her goal for 4-2

‘I had to hold my tears back because this is just crazy,’ Graham Hansen told DAZN afterwards. 

‘The crowd is not leaving to go home, they are just staying to celebrate us.’ 

It also broke new ground as the crowd broke the overall record attendance for a women’s game. That was set at the final of the World Cup in 1999 when the United States beat China in front of 90,195 fans at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 

In total, 91,533 was present on Wednesday to see the Catalan giants book their spot in the last four.

‘I didn’t imagine anything like it, [I have] goosebumps all over the place,’ Graham Hansen added. 

‘It’s not only 91,500 here tonight, it’s 91,500 Barca fans here tonight. 

Goalscorer Caroline Graham Hansen was left overwhelmed by the size of the attendance

‘They’ve been singing all game, it’s been amazing. It’s something I never dreamed of happening, here today we did it, hopefully it’s not the last time we’re doing it.’

As well as being a crucial quarter-final second leg, the fixture made history as it demolished the attendance record for a club game in women’s football, which was set in 2019 when 60,739 people watched Barca beat Atletico Madrid 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Barca enjoyed a record-breaking 2020-2021 season as they became the first Spanish side to win the Champions League with a 4-0 victory over Chelsea. They also won the league and Copa de la Reina. 

They have already won the league and are into the semi-finals of both the Copa de la Reina and the Champions League, making them strong favourites to repeat their treble-winning campaign of 2020-21.

Barcelona’s jubilant players were keen to celebrate with all of the fans after victory was sealed