Barça Women win 5-0 against Minsk in the Champions League

The Women's Champions League returned to action in style at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, as Barça Women took a comprehensive 5-0 win against FC Minsk. The victory, through a brace from Aitana and goals from Marta Torrejón, Oshoala and Jenni Hermoso, gives them a healthy advantage going into the second leg of the Last 16 clash.

Barça never let their foot off the gas, but the game was all but decided in the first half, which ended 4-0. Besides their effective shots in front of goal, they also had a Mariona penalty saved 10 minutes from the halftime whistle. Such was the dominance that Barça goalkeeper Sandra Paños did not get so much as a touch of the ball until half an hour into the contest.

Oshoala opened the scoring off a pass from Graham (1-0, min 6), then a corner was headed home by Marta Torrejón for goal number two of the evening  (2-0, min 20).

Aitana scored a double within four minutes, shooting first time from a delivery by Oshoala (3-0, min 22) then getting her head to another cross (4-0, min 26).

After the restart, FC Minsk got slightly more into the game, but offered little threat. Barça's chances continued with a chip from Graham, a shot by substitute Candela Andújar, and a chance for Hermoso -also brought on in the second period.

Hermoso eventually capped the scoring, reeacting quickest when Mariona's shot hit the crossbar and heading across the line.

The second leg of the tie will be held on 30 October.

MATCH STATS

Barça, 5

FC Minsk, 0

Barça: Paños, María León (Laia Codina, min 46), Marta Torrejón, Mariona, Alexia, Patri, Aitana, Leila, Graham (Candela Andújar, min 58), Andrea Pereira and Oshoala (Jenni Hermoso, min 60).

Minsk: Voskobovich, Yushko, Ogbiagbevha, Kozyupa, Duben (Shuppo, min 61), Galay, Shmatko, Njolle, Cisse (Popova, min 80), Khimich and Linnik (Belaya, min 85).

Goals: 1-0, Oshoala (min 6). 2-0, Marta Torrejón (min 20). 3-0, Aitana (min 22). 4-0, Aitana (min 26). 5-0, Jenni Hermoso (min 85).

Referee: Rebecca Welch.

Attendance: 1,698