Barcelona put five past Wolfsburg in the first leg of their Women’s Champions League semi-final in front of a record 91,648 crowd at the Nou Camp.
The Spanish champions, who won the treble last season, went 2-0 up within 10 minutes thanks to goals from Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen.
Jenni Hermoso and captain Alexia Putellas then doubled Barcelona’s lead.
Wolfsburg’s Jill Roord pulled one back in the second half, before Putellas’ penalty made it 5-1.
Two-time champions Wolfsburg were blown away by early pressure from Barcelona, who set the previous record mark for a women’s match when they played in front of 91,553 for their quarter-final victory against El Clasico rivals Real Madrid last month.
The Nou Camp was treated to a scintillating display from the defending champions as Bonmati, who went off to a standing ovation in the second half, punished the German side when she was played in behind within three minutes.
Fridolina Rolfo almost scored another seconds later when she fired inches wide and Wolfsburg had still not got going when Graham Hansen cut onto her left foot and curled it into the corner to make it 2-0.
The visitors did come close when Svenja Huth was teed up by Roord, only for the Wolfsburg striker to be denied by a goalline block and a save within quick succession.
Barcelona pushed to extend their lead – adding a third and fourth goal before half-time when Hermoso coolly put away Maria Torrejon’s cut-back and Putellas was slipped in behind.
Further chances fell to Tollejon, Putellas and Rolfo, while Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic had a goal ruled out for offside following a VAR check early in the second half, Claudia Pina hit the crossbar and substitute Asisat Oshoala was denied from close range.
Roord gave Wolfsburg a glimmer of hope in the 70th minute when she slid the ball past goalkeeper Sandra Panos but they face a mighty task in the second leg to turn it around after Putellas’ late penalty made it 5-1.
There were carnival celebrations at full-time as the record 91,648 fans in attendance sang, played drums and waved flags following an impressive display by the holders.
Wolfsburg must now come from behind at home against this Barcelona side who have won every game since a 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals last year.
Seven-time winners Lyon take on French rivals Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday, 24 April in the second semi-final.
Source: BBC
