The women’s team, which was founded in 1988, is looking to reach their first Champions League semi-final.
A first half stoppage time goal from Leila Ouahabi was enough to win it. The defender pounced on a mix up in the Rosengård defence and slotted the ball past the keeper. The goal was a crucial one as it gave Barça the lead in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie and gave them a sight of a place they had never reached before.
Since the competition’s inception in 2009 and Barcelona’s first appearance in 2012, the Catalan club have never reached the semi-final. Twice losing in the quarter final stage with a 5-0 aggregate loss to Wolfsburg in 2014 and a 0-1 loss to PSG last year. This year, a 1-0 away win over Rosengård has given Barça Femení a strong chance of reaching that promised land
The team is coached by Xavi Llorens and the veteran is currently in his eleventh year at the helm. Under Llorens, the team has tasted plenty of success, winning four of the last five league titles and three Copa de la Reinas. This season they trail league leaders Atlético Madrid by just two points and are in line to take home the treble.
The Copa de la Reina works a little different to its male counterpart in that it is usually contested in a two week period at the end of the season. The top eight teams in the Primera División compete in the tournament and Barcelona will be aiming for their fifth title.
The Champions League remains the missing link however. Taking a 1-0 aggregate scoreline back to Barcelona is a great advantage to the club but not one that they can solely rely on to secure progress into the semi final. Barça will have to produce a similar performance to the first leg and restrict Rosengård’s chances to a minimum if they wish to come away with a positive result.
If Barcelona do get through, there are plenty of strong teams left between them and the trophy in Cardiff. Bayern Munich and PSG play each other in another quarter-final and a repeat of last year’s final, Wolfsburg - Lyon, is currently 2-0 in favour of the French side. Manchester City are also a fancied team who are looking to get their hands on the trophy for the first time as well with the help of World Player of the Year Carli Lloyd.
Llorens’ women head into tonight’s game confident of their chances but a new page in the history books is not assured just yet.
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