Barcelona Women edged Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid Women 1-0 at the Estadio San Mamés in Bilbao, Spain, on Friday to qualify for the Women’s Champions League semifinals.
Despite Barcelona’s dominance in the first half, Atletico had the game’s first chance in the ninth minute but Kylie Strom blasted her effort high from a tight angle. Atletico was unable to muster a shot on target in the half.
The Spanish champions, on the other hand, had more of the possession but initially failed to seriously trouble goalkeeper Hedvig Lindahl, who made a couple of comfortable saves.
Barcelona nearly took the lead just after the half hour mark when the ball fell to Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala in the penalty box and her cross found Lieke Martens on the left but her shot was cleared off the line by Aissatou Tounkara.
After the break, Oshoala had a good chance to break the deadlock when she was sent through on goal by Jenni Hermoso but she shot wide with only the keeper to beat.
Barcelona kept creating chances with Oshoala, Alexia Putellas and Caroline Hansen all going close.
Barcelona finally broke the deadlock in the 79th minute. Hansen’s cross from the right came in and Oshoala failed to connect properly with an overhead kick but her touch set the ball up for Kheira Hamraoui to fire past Lindahl.
Barcelona threatened thereafter but did not add to their tally and held on for the win.
“Atletico Madrid are a very good side. Getting the goal towards the end of the game, it is a very good one for us. (It) gives us more confidence and a different mindset going to the next game. No matter what the time we score, at the end of the day, we came out victorious; we won the game, which is the most important thing,” Oshoala told Barcelona’s media team after the match.
“That’s what big teams do. Just make sure you get the goal, whichever way, just make sure you get the goal.”
Barcelona, last season’s runners-up, will face Wolfsburg in the semifinals after the Germans defeated Scotland’s Glasgow City 9-1 at the Reale Seguros Stadium in San Sebastian.
It was a baptism of fire for Banyana Banyana defender Janine van Wyk whose side was thoroughly outplayed by the two-time champions.
There was joy, however, for Glasgow when Lauren Wade found the net in the 65th minute with their only shot on target.
“Scoring in a Champions League quarter-final is something I’ll take with me forever. Not many people can do that against a top-class defence so I’m very proud,” Wade said.
In Saturday’s quarterfinals, Arsenal plays Paris Saint-Germain and record six-time champions Lyon plays Bayern Munich.
