Ewa Pajor celebrates one of her two goals in the match. Image: FC Barcelona.

Barça wins the first round

The *azulgranas* defeated Real Madrid CF 2-6 in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals. Ewa Pajor, with a brace, Esmee Brugts, Irene Paredes, Vicky López and Alexia Putellas, from the penalty spot, scored the goals for the *blaugranas*, while Linda Caicedo netted both goals for Real Madrid CF.

25 TUE 2026

Wednesday 25 March 18:45h Real Madrid CF - FC Barcelona

The Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium was dressed up for the Champions League clash. Five minutes into the match, Patri Guijarro sent a ball into the area that Alexia touched, and Ewa Pajor finished the ball to send it directly into the back of the net. Just six minutes later, Vicky López delivered a cross into the area that Brugts headed. Misa saved the header, but the ball ended up rolling in. Feller responded with a shot into the side netting. Lakrar also tried with a header that went high. Misa was very alert to deny Ewa Pajor in a one-on-one. Around the half-hour mark, Linda Caicedo got away from Irene Paredes with her pace, cut inside Cata Coll, and reduced the deficit. The joy was short-lived for the Madrid faithful. Claudia Pina took a corner that Irene Paredes met with a powerful header to extend the visitors' lead once more. Before half-time, Cata Coll saved a shot from Sara Däbritz from outside the area. 

In the second half, Real Madrid CF started better. The home side generated danger with Linda Caicedo leading the charge. The Colombian played a pass to Sara Däbritz, but the Blaugrana defence cleared the German's action. The tempo dropped, but Pere Romeu's team continued to dominate the match, and as soon as they could, they extended their lead on the scoreboard. In the 56th minute, Clara Serrajordi threaded a pass to Ewa Pajor, who scored her second goal, beating Misa with a powerful shot. The Merengue side came close to scoring, but Cata Coll saved Feller's shot. The pace was very high, and Vicky López finished off a great cross from Graham Hansen. The Di Stéfano crowd rose to their feet again with another golazo from Linda Caicedo, who also completed her brace. The Blaugrana club continued to push for more goals, and Graham won a penalty, which Alexia took responsibility for and converted. The second leg of the quarter-finals will be played on Thursday, April 2nd at 18:45 at the Camp Nou.