Real Madrid Femenino 1-3 Barça Women: Two goal cushion to take to Camp Nou

This women's Clásico triumph felt much more than just a win. Barça Women came back from 1-0 in the first half to score three goals in the second and take control of this Champions League quarter final. The advantage could have been extended in the second half but they still bring a healthy lead to the return leg next Wednesday March 30 at Camp Nou.

Real Madrid strike first

The game began with high pressing from Real Madrid, finding ways over and through the Barça defence. This bore fruit as Esther González carried the ball forward, slid the ball out to the left and Olga Carmona finished across Paños from inside the area (1-0, min 8). Barça Women couldn't find their rhythm and didn't have their first shot until 26 minutes, when Misa saved well down to her right from a Patri shot from the edge of the area.

Barça were starting to find their feet, but Real Madrid continued to threaten and the lively Esther González hit the post on the 38th minute, before Paños saved another of her shots. 1-0 at half time.

Second half turnaround

Barça looked much more comfortable after the break and a penalty was awarded six minutes in after VAR intervention. Alexia smashed it into the right side of the goal to level the match. Esther remained a threat for the home side, and second half substitute Pina could have scored Barça's second. The match was in the balance.

Barça Women gradually assumed control, creating opportunities, but that elusive second goal wouldn't come. Paredes returned from injury to join Mapi Leon at the heart of the defence. The chances kept coming but it wasn't until the 81st minute, when Pina stepped onto a rebound after an Aitana shot to shoot low and hard past Misa to make it 1-2.

The world's best player still had time to complete her brace, Alexia delightfully lifting the ball over Misa to take a much more comfortable scoreline back to the Camp Nou for the Champions League quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday March 30.

Game stats:

Real Madrid Femenino, 1
Barça Women, 3

Real Madrid Femenino: Misa, Lucia Rodriguez (Kenti Robles, min 78), Sofie Svava, Claudia Zornoza, Babett Peter, Rocio Gálvez (Ivana Andrés, min 66), Athenea del Castillo, Teresa Abelleira, Esther González, Maite Oroz (Nahiari García, min 78) and Olga Carmona (Caroline Moller, min 66). 

Barça Women: Sandra Paños, Marta Torrejón, Leila Ouahabi (Claudia Pina, min 46); Patri Guijarro, Andrea Pereira (Irene Paredes, min 65), Maria Leon, Aitana Bonmati (Ingrid Engen, min 86), Caroline Graham, Fridolina Rolfo, Alexia Putellas and Jenni Hermoso.

Goals: 1-0, Olga Carmona (min 8); 1-1, Alexia (min 52); 1-2, Pina (min 81); 1-3, Alexia (min 94). 

Referee: Lina Lehtovaara. Yellow cards for Aitana and Leila Ouahabi from Barça, and Olga, Teresa and Esther from Real Madrid.