Barcelona storm into Women Champions League quarterfinals
Exhibiting their dominance in the Women’s Champions League, Barcelona trounced Rosengrad 7-0 and secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
The highlight of the match was Salma Paralluelo who emerged as the star, scoring twice for the hosts in a spectacular showdown on Thursday.
The defending champions, Barcelona, continued their impeccable run, maintaining a flawless record after four rounds. English midfielder Keira Walsh and Norwegian attacker Caroline Hansen joined forces with Paralluelo on the scoresheet. The Spanish team’s victory also marked the exit of Swedish side Rosengrad from the competition.
Barcelona set the stage early, leading 2-0 at halftime with Walsh and Hansen securing goals. The team’s berth in the last eight was solidified with Paralluelo’s two brilliant strikes before the hour mark. Late goals from Spain’s Claudia Pina and Marta Torrejon, along with an own goal from Jessica Wik, sealed Rosengrad’s fate.
In another Group A encounter, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Laura Freigang missed a crucial 90th-minute penalty, leading to a 1-1 draw with Benfica, keeping both teams’ hopes alive for advancing to the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Lyon secured a quarter-final spot, despite a 2-2 draw against Norwegian side Brann. French midfielder Amel Majri and Norwegian attacker Aga Hegerberg established a 2-0 lead for Lyon within 13 minutes, but Brann fought back valiantly. Justine Kielland reduced the deficit before Brann netted a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time through 18-year-old midfielder Signe Gaupset.
In Group B, Brann holds the second spot with a six-point lead over Slavia Prague and St. Poelten, as their match was postponed due to a tragic shooting incident in Prague, claiming the lives of 14 people.
Additionally, Chelsea clinched a 3-1 victory against Swedish club Hacken, with Australia’s Sam Kerr finding the net, while Real Madrid faced disappointment with a 1-0 home loss to Paris FC, ending their hopes of advancing further in the tournament.