Defending champions Barcelona and French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) secured narrow victories in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, edging closer to a place in the semi-finals.
Barcelona vs. Brann
Barcelona overcame a resilient Brann side to win 2-1 in Norway. Caroline Graham Hansen gave the holders an early lead with a deflected shot, but Cecilie Kvamme equalized for the hosts just before half-time. In the 72nd minute, Salma Paralluelo netted the winning goal with a low left-footed strike, extending her tally to six goals in the competition this season.
PSG vs. Häcken
PSG also claimed a 2-1 victory away to Swedish club Häcken. Eva Gaetino opened the scoring for the visitors in the 23rd minute with her first professional goal. Rosa Kafaji leveled the match for Häcken three minutes before half-time, converting the rebound from her own missed penalty. Tabitha Chawinga scored the winner for PSG in the 74th minute, giving them a narrow advantage heading into the second leg.
Quotes
PSG coach Jocelyn Prêcheur acknowledged his team’s offensive shortcomings after the match: Offensively, I’m a little disappointed. We have to show a better side to ourselves, especially in our stadium in Paris.
Häcken coach Mak Lind expressed disappointment but remained optimistic: We are disappointed but there were many things we did pretty well in the game… It’s only the first half out of two. There’s one more game to play and still, we have a chance, for sure.
Other Quarter-Final Results
In the other quarter-finals on Tuesday, Lyon, the record eight-time champions, fought back from a goal down to beat Benfica 2-1, while Chelsea dominated Ajax with a convincing 3-0 victory.
Conclusion
Barcelona and PSG have earned slim advantages in the first leg of their respective Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. The second legs will take place on March 27 and 28, with PSG hosting Häcken and Barcelona welcoming Brann.
Both teams will be confident of progressing to the semi-finals, but they will need to be wary of their opponents, who will be determined to overturn the deficits.
Holabet News is your trusted online betting site in Singapore. Your winning journey starts here!