Barcelona overwhelmed their arch-rivals Real Madrid with a stunning 6-0 victory on Thursday, advancing to the women’s Champions League semi-finals with a comprehensive 12-2 aggregate scoreline.
On her 500th appearance for the club, Alexia Putellas delivered an outstanding performance for the Catalan side in their inaugural match at the renovated Camp Nou, building upon their 6-2 triumph in the quarter-final’s first leg.
With this win, the three-time champions have secured their spot in the semi-finals for the eighth consecutive year. Winger Caroline Graham Hansen scored two goals, with Putellas also contributing to the impressive tally.
Pere Romeu’s formidable team, who finished as runners-up to Arsenal last season, will face Bayern Munich in the semi-finals after the German club eliminated Manchester United on Wednesday.
Despite the absence of key player Aitana Bonmati, who is sidelined for an extended period, Barcelona produced a scintillating display in front of a crowd of 60,000, marking the fourth-largest attendance in the history of the competition.
“We performed well as a team last week, which allowed us to come here today with the lead. We wanted to put on a good show for all the fans who came to support us,” said Graham Hansen in an interview with TV3.
“We aimed to enjoy our return to Camp Nou with the fans, and scoring six goals certainly sends everyone home happy. It makes a difference to have 60,000, 80,000, or even 90,000 fans behind you, as they provide incredible support and help turn the tide against the opposition.”
Putellas opened the scoring early, tapping in a rebound after Misa Rodriguez had saved Ewa Pajor’s effort.
Graham Hansen quickly added Barcelona’s second with a header from a Putellas cross.
Irene Paredes scored the third for Barca with a header from a corner, replicating her effort from the first leg as Madrid struggled to hold their ground.
Polish striker Pajor made it four with a close-range finish following Rodriguez’s inability to clear a diving header.
Athenea del Castillo missed Madrid’s best chance just before half-time, skewing wide.
Graham Hansen found the net again shortly after the break, skilfully evading her marker before executing a deft lob.
Both Pajor and Graham Hansen squandered additional chances as Barcelona continued to dominate, with Esmee Brugts adding the sixth goal with a simple finish following a tidy combination involving Patri Guijarro and Clara Serrajordi.
Putellas received a well-deserved standing ovation from the ecstatic fans when she was substituted late in the match. The 32-year-old star’s contract expires at the end of the season, but performances of this calibre will surely spark calls for her to extend her stay.
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