FC Barcelona sink Rosengard and take a step towards the Women's Champions League semi-finals

There is something special about the Women's Champions League. With the Spanish teams not involved in the group stage, it is about seizing the moment. Barcelona like to play entertaining football, even when they are up against Marta and her FC Rosengard side. It is about seizing the moment and beating a five-time world footballer of the year and it is about reaching the semi-finals of Europe's top club competition for the first time in the club's history.

Malmo oozes Nordic style, but not just that. It also boasts the Malmo Idrottsplats, a stadium that began to fill up an hour before kick-off. 5,036 fans turned out to watch Rosengard, to watch Marta. The volume inside the ground goes up a few decibels whenever she touches the ball. Xavi Llorens fielded a back five for today's clash with Miriam Dieguez, Ruth Garcia and Line Roddik charged with clearing any danger, and Alexia Putellas, Jenni Hermoso and Andressa Alves interchanging positions. The Azulgranashad come to do a job during the first 90 minutes of the tie in Sweden.   

FC Barcelona dominated the first half of the game. Jenni had their first shot on goal in the 6th minute, although Sandra Paños was called into action to keep the hosts at bay on 11 minutes. The Barcelona keeper reacted well at her left post before Leila Ouahabi then halted an individual move by Lotta Schelin. Barcelona looked to build through the middle, with Vicky Losada and Marta Unzue playing off each other. The visitors pressed high up the pitch to stop Rosengard getting comfortable on the ball and it was then, on the brink of half-time, that Schelin crumpled to the ground and signalled for a change. She went off, the referee added three minutes and Barcelona made their move. Marta Torrejon crossed in to the area, the defence failed to clear and Leila, on her 24th birthday, fired home for her team's first goal of the tie. 

It was a different story after the break. Lieke Martens brought the home side's attacking threat as Rosengard came out intent on finding an equaliser. Paños needed to be at her best as the visitors were forced to defend for the second 45 minutes. Injury forced a 65th-minute substitution with Andressa going off for Barbara Latorre. Barcelona battled to wrestle back control of the game, but the Swedes dominated the second 45 minutes. Patri Guijarro came off the bench for Unzue, whilst Vicky, on a booking, gave way to Gemma Gili. The referee signalled for four minutes of time added on which led to a further four minutes of Swedish dominance, but Barcelona held on and will hope to take their 1-0 win in Malmo back to the Miniestadi next Wednesday 29, where they will attempt to seal their place in the semi-finals for the first time in the club's history.