PARIS: Alexia Putellas’ second-half double sank Actual Madrid on Tuesday as reigning champions Barcelona got here from at the back of to win 3-1 within the first leg of the Girls’s Champions League quarter-finals. Madrid took a marvel lead in opposition to their all-conquering competitors when Olga Carmona fired in early on the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium and the house facet had probabilities to increase their merit, with Esther Gonzalez hitting the submit.
As a substitute, Barca got here storming again, aided via a cushy penalty, which used to be transformed via Ballon d’Or winner Putellas, sooner than Claudia Pina after which Putellas’ moment finished a devastating turnaround. “We knew it will be a hard tie however we didn’t be expecting such prime drive from Madrid,” mentioned Barcelona trainer Jonatan Giraldez.
“We took time to react however in the second one 1/2 we managed the sport higher and we have been extra medical in assault.” It’ll take a huge effort from Madrid to stop the Catalans achieving the semis, in particular as the second one leg can be performed at Camp Nou, in entrance of what’s set to be a world-record crowd. Actual Madrid mentioned they have been not able to make use of the Santiago Bernabeu for this primary leg because of ongoing renovation paintings on the membership’s primary floor.
Barcelona got here into the ladies’s Clasico as sizzling favorites after successful all 5 in their aggressive conferences since Madrid formally introduced their ladies’s group in 2020. They retained their Primera Department identify previous this month with six video games to spare, via thrashing Actual Madrid 5-0. However Madrid have been some distance from over-awed this time, their efficiency providing hope they are able to proceed to near the distance subsequent season, despite the fact that their possibilities of growth glance faraway.
Putellas overlooked an early likelihood on the again submit after which it used to be the Spaniard who used to be at fault for the opener, her sloppy cross permitting Actual Madrid to damage. Esther weaved thru and as Barca’s protection have been drawn within, she shifted the ball left for Olga, who guided a fab end into the nook. Esther struck the submit from a hooked effort in opposition to function after which she went thru once more, this time taking pictures immediately at Sandra Panos. However Barcelona advanced in the second one 1/2, rejuvenated via their equalizer within the 53rd minute.
Fridolina Rolfoe’s pass reached the again submit and because the ball bounced, Olga arrived past due, her knee making touch with Barca’s Caroline Graham Hansen, who made the lots of the fall. After consulting the replay, Finnish referee Lina Lehtovaara gave the penalty. Misa faced Putellas at the spot however the tried mind-games had no impact, Putellas discovering the nook. With the ranking stage, Barcelona have been all of sudden sharper and extra assertive and via the general 10 mins a weary Madrid have been striking on.
Barca would now not be denied as Hansen’s cut-back discovered Aitana Bonmati within the house and her shot fell kindly for Pina, who drove low and into the nook. Madrid had misplaced the fit and in injury-time they most probably misplaced the tie, as Barcelona broke down the appropriate and Putellas used to be left loose. She scooped in a pleasing end to make it 3. Prolific striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto previous scored two times as Paris Saint-Germain gained 2-1 away to Bayern Munich.
Katoto, who’s PSG’s all-time most sensible scorer on the age of simply 23, netted a Twentieth-minute opener after which headed house within the 71st minute for the French champions on the Allianz Enviornment. Then again, German world Klara Buehl smashed in a past due free-kick to stay Bayern’s hopes alive going into the go back. PSG’s ladies are hoping to move the entire approach in Europe after finishing Lyon’s run of 14 consecutive French titles final season. – AFP