Real Madrid F were defeated by Barcelona F, final score 2-6, in the first leg of the quarter-final that was played in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, at the “Estadio Alfredo di Stefano”, in a match in which Ewa Pajor and Linda Caicedo scored twice for their teams, and three other scorers brought the Catalans a victory that consecrates a giant step towards qualifying for the “four aces” of the continental competition, before the two clubs play another “El-Clasico” this weekend, in the Spanish capital, this time, in the “Liga F Moeve”.

Real Madrid F and Barcelona F met in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the current season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League, at the “Estadio Alfredo di Stefano”. In the round of 16, the “los blancos” managed to overcome Paris FC, with an aggregate score of 5-2, at the end of the two legs, while the Catalans had a “free round”, as a result of the status granted in this continental season, more precisely, the number one seed.

The team trained by Pau Quesada had recorded, prior to this new episode of “El-Clasico”, seven victories in a row, the last defeat dating back to February 5, when Barcelona F had overcome the band from the capital of Spain with an improbable score of 4-0. On the other hand, the students led from the sidelines by Pere Romeu had obtained four victories and one failure in the same period of time, in all competitions. In the matches that had been played on their home field, Real Madrid F, prior to the defeat recorded against the Catalans, had been defeated by Athletic Bilbao.

In the guest camp, the duels that had taken place away, in recent times, looked amazing, because, Barcelona F had not lost a match played away from home since November of last year, when the Basques from Real Sociedad F imposed themselves, in the domestic championship, by the limit, final score 1-0. Regarding the direct confrontations that have taken place over time between the two rivals, it should be noted that the Catalan team has dominated authoritatively, because, since 2019, when the first match between these teams was played, the “los blancos” have only won once in the company of Barcelona F, more precisely, last year, when, at the “Camp Nou”, the final score was 3-1 in favor of Real Madrid F.

In fact, during the Catalans’ most recent visit to the “Estadio Alfredo di Stefano”, the team coached by Pau Quesada would lose categorically, by four goals, in a match in which Ewa Pajor scored a “double”, ensuring the success of Barcelona F. In the ranking of the best scorers of this continental season, however, Caroline Weir, from Scotland, was, before the quarter-finals of the European competition, in second place, accumulating five goals and an assist so far. On the other hand, Alexia Putellas, with four goals and four assists, was the most prolific player for the Catalans before the start of this “El-Clasico”.

The opening of the scoring came in the sixth minute of the match, when Esmee Brugts threw a ball deep, Alexia Putellas took over, and the captain of Barcelona F passed in front of the goal, where the Polish striker, Ewa Pajor, easily pushed the ball into the net of the posts defended by Misa. Then, Claudia Pina took the ball approximately 25 meters away from the opposing goal, and the left winger of the guests sent from a great distance, over the crossbar.

The second goal came in the 12th minute, when Esmee Brugts took advantage of a quality cross that came from the right side of Vicky Lopez’s boot, and the Dutch footballer scored with a header into the far corner. Alexia Putellas had the chance to extend the Catalans’ advantage when the Barcelona F captain received a pass on the edge of the box, but the Spanish footballer’s execution went over the opponent’s goal. The goal that reduced the difference on the scoreboard came close to reaching the first half hour, when Linda Caicedo received a pass in open space, dribbled around everyone, including the Catalan team’s goalkeeper, and scored without any problems.

At the end of a corner kick, Barcelona F scored through central defender Irene Paredes, who rose the most and placed the ball in the goal defended by Misa. The Catalan team scored once again 12 minutes after the restart, when the Polish Ewa Pajor ticked off the “double”, thanks to an elegant finish, which was sent past the goalkeeper of the team from the capital of Spain. Barely entering the pitch, Caroline Graham offered a high-quality cross on the ground, and Vicky Lopez, from a slide, completed the Catalans’ offensive action, scoring from a comfortable position.

Real Madrid F reduced the gap a few moments later, when Linda Caicedo took a ball on the left side, entered the center and shot unstoppably, to the short corner, to bring joy and confidence to the stands as if a turnaround were possible. The last goal of the game came in the last moments, when Alexia Putellas scored from the spot with a lof of confidence and gave the Catalans a bigger advantage on the scoresheet.

At the end of this success, the Catalans start with the first chance to qualify for the semi-finals of the competition, but, until the return leg of the double which is scheduled to be played on April 2, in Barcelona, ​​the two teams will face off in another “El-Clasico”, in the next stage of the domestic championship, also at the “Estadio Alfredo di Stefano”.