Barcelona hammer Real Madrid in Women’s Champions League quarterfinals

Defeated finalists last season, Barcelona have now gone 25 games unbeaten with latest win against fierce football rivals.Barcelona have powered into a commanding 6-2 lead over rivals Real Madrid in an all-Spanish Women’s Champions League quarterfinal first leg.Pere Romeu’s side, who have dominated the football competition in recent years, moved two goals ahead through Ewa Pajor and Esmee Brugts inside 13 minutes on Wednesday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Is Salah at the end of road or can Egypt glory be a spur at 2026 World Cup?list 2 of 4Why is Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool, and where will he go next?list 3 of 4Asian Champions League quarterfinal sends Iran’s Tractor FC to Saudi Arabialist 4 of 4Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to leave Liverpool at end of season after 9-year stayend of listLinda Caicedo pulled one back for hosts Real Madrid at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium, but Irene Paredes quickly restored Barca’s two-goal lead.Pajor and Vicky Lopez netted in the second half before Caicedo struck again for Madrid to give them some faint hope. Alexia Putellas added a late penalty to leave the Catalans with one foot firmly in the semifinals.Barca, now unbeaten in their last 25 games across all competitions, finished runners-up to Arsenal last season.The three-time winners have reached five straight finals and are on the brink of an eighth consecutive semifinal, without injured three-time Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati.Instead, it was two-time winner Putellas who created the opener for Barca’s top scorer Pajor.Patri Guijarro’s clever dink over the top allowed Putellas to square for Pajor to stab her fifth Champions League goal this season into an empty net.Lopez’s looping cross was met by Brugts for Barca’s second, with Madrid goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez pushing the ball into the air only to have it drop down and over the line, with defender Maelle Lakrar unable to keep it out.Pajor should have extended Barca’s lead but, through on goal, took the ball too close to Rodriguez, who managed to knock it to safety.