FC Barcelona traveled to Wolfsburg for the first leg in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. The defending champions dominated the entire match, giving away little to nothing. Tommy Stroot’s side has a big job to do in the return leg. Read our match report on VfL Wolfsburg vs. VfL Wolfsburg here.
Match Highlights
- Lynn Wilms made her 100th appearance for VfL Wolfsburg.
- The opener went down as an own goal by Dijkstra.
- Paredes doubled the lead & Paralluelo scored the third quickly after.
- Minge pulled one back for VfL Wolfsburg but Schertenleib extended the lead once again.
Wolfsburg is blown away by FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona stormed out of the gates in the opening minutes of the game, overloading the VfL Wolfsburg box and giving them no room to play their game. The home team appeared a bit lost. After ten minutes, the VAR reviewed a potential penalty, but the play continued once the check was over.
Wolfsburg has won the Women’s Champions League twice, so they aren’t easily dismissed, but FC Barcelona’s play looked more promising.
The visitors open the scoring
After nearly 26 minutes of sustained ball possession, FC Barcelona opened the scoring. Graham Hansen played a ball over the top to BonmatĂ, whose ball back went to Pajor. Though Pajor had Dijkstra breathing down her neck, she managed to get the ball in the back of the net.
- It eventually went down as an own goal by Dijksta.
After the goal, FC Barcelona kept the control, pushing Wolfsburg back into their own half for the majority of the first half. Ewa Pajor had a chance to double their lead, but she opted to pass the ball across to Paraluello, who wasn’t expecting it and missed the ball.
Second Half: 45 minutes to turn it around
Both sides started the second half unchanged. Within five minutes, the visitors doubled their lead. A short corner was played to Mapi LeĂłn, who found Paredes ready to tap it in. Barcelona kept their momentum going and scored a third from a quick rebound.
Parallel controlled the ball brilliantly, laying it down to shoot and finding the back of the net. It seemed there was a slight deflection there to make it impossible for Borbe to make the save.
The first changes are made
Head coach Tommy Stroot saw his team go down 0-3 and knew they had to turn things around. Peddemors replaced Brand, and Linder made way for Jonsdottir. Around ten minutes later the following subs came on:
- Pere Romeu brought Rolfö and Engen on for Paralluelo and Brugts.
- Blomqvist and Endemann and came on for Beerensteyn and Popp.
Wolfsburg pulls one back
It was the home team’s first corner, and they made it count. Wilms’ delivery found Minge free in the box, and she headed it to the top corner, out of Cata Coll’s reach, scoring to make it 1-3.
There were ten minutes left for the Wolves to potentially close the gap even further.
- Putellas made way for Schertenleib.
Super sub Schertenleib extends the lead
She came on for Putellas, is only 18 years old but scored an absolute phenomenal goal. Schertenleib was free in the box as she received the ball. She had plenty of time to look up, aim and shoot. The ball went into the top right corner, hitting the crossbar on the way in.
- In stoppage time Vicky and TorrejĂłn came on for Fernández and BonmatĂ.
- Lattwein was replaced by Kielland for the last two minutes.
VfL Wolfburg was unable to add anything to the scoresheet, meaning FC Barcelona won the first leg 1-4.
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