Mueez Ajao
– Fridolina Rolfo scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Roma to secure progression to the Women’s Champions League semi-finals.
– Rolfo scored either side of Maria Leon’s stunning curled strike in front of 54,667 joyous fans at the Nou Camp.
– Goals from Asisat Oshoala and Patricia Guijarro put the Catalan side out of sight before Annamaria Serturini’s low drive gave Roma a consolation goal.
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– Barca will meet Chelsea or defending champions Lyon in the last four.
– Fresh from scoring the only goal in Barcelona’s win over Real Madrid in the league on Saturday, Sweden forward Rolfo latched on to a loose ball which Roma had been unable to properly clear and calmly slotted it into the bottom right corner for the opener.
– Then she tapped in from Caroline Graham Hansen’s low driving cross after Lioness Keira Walsh had set up Leon’s rocket from 25-yards out to put the home side in control.
– Oshoala nudged home Barca’s fourth just one minute into the second half, tapping in from Aitana Bonmati’s cross, before Guijarro’s header from a corner sealed their spot in the semi-final.
– Buoyed by a passionate crowd in Spain, Barcelona oozed class with Walsh dominating play in the middle of the park and fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze thwarting Roma’s attempts to score on the counter.
– Having conceded just one goal in their first-leg loss in Italy, Champions League debutants Roma struggled to create meaningful opportunities in Spain and were unable to deal with Barcelona’s aggressive style.
– Serturini’s powerful shot was one of their only highlights, while a sublime save from goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar denied Geyse Ferreira a sixth goal in the final few minutes.
– Barcelona have reached the Champions League semi-final stage for five consecutive seasons, going on to reach the final three times and winning the tournament once.
– Emma Hayes’ Chelsea lead eight-time champions Lyon, who beat Barcelona in last season’s final, 1-0 on aggregate and could book their place in the semi-final on Thursday at Stamford Bridge.
⏰ 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧 ⏰
Barça advance to the semis after a dominant second-leg display at Camp Nou. #UWCL // @FCBfemeni pic.twitter.com/142W9HSQnB
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) March 29, 2023
