Barcelona secured their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s Champions League on Wednesday by beating Roma 5-1, while Arsenal beat Bayern Munich 2-1 on aggregate thanks to a 2-0 win at the Emirates.
Tournament favorites Barca held a narrow 1-0 lead in the first leg in the Italian capital last week.
But last season’s runners-up stormed into a 3-0 lead before half-time in front of 55,000 spectators at the Camp Nou.
Sweden international Fridolina Rolfo scored twice on either side of Mapi Leon’s spectacular long-range shot in the first half.
Asisat Oshoala struck from close range just after the break and Patri Guijarro headed in the fifth from a corner.
Annamaria Serturini scored for Roma against a Barcelona side who have won 100 percent of their Spanish league games and suffered just one defeat all season, against Bayern in the group stage.
Barca have now reached the semi-finals in five consecutive seasons, meeting either holders Lyon or Chelsea in the last four.
“We cannot hide that our ambitions are at the maximum,” said Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez.
“Olympique (Lyon) and Chelsea are the best in Europe, it’s a reality and it’s going to be difficult, but it’s true that playing the second leg at home gives us a sense of strength.”
– Arsenal knock Bayern away –
Arsenal overcame a 1-0 first-leg defeat to reach the last four for the first time in 10 years in front of a record crowd of over 20,000 in a women’s Champions League game in England.
Despite the absence of injured star strikers Vivianne Miedema and Beth Mead, the Gunners blew Bayern away in the first half.
Frida Maanum equalized in the 20th minute with a brilliant hit from under the bar.
Moments later, Arsenal led as Stina Blackstenius faced the simple task of rounding off a brilliant team movement with a header into an unguarded goal from a Katie McCabe cross.
Only a wasted finish from Jonas Eidevall’s side made for a nail-biting finale.
Leah Williamson and Caitlin Foord missed glorious chances to extend the lead while Lotte Wubben-Moy just hit the bar.
But Arsenal kept prolonging Bayern’s wait to win the competition.
Chelsea maintain the upper hand ahead of Thursday’s blockbuster quarter-finals after the English champions won 1-0 in the first leg at Lyon.
In the other quarter-final, too, Wolfsburg leads 1-0 against Paris Saint-Germain before the second leg in Germany.
kca-rbs/mw
Source : sports.yahoo.com