Barcelona reassert dominance over Madrid in UWCL showdown.
MADRID — The initial encounter of three Clásicos within eight days felt as though it concluded almost immediately.
Real Madrid approached this latest clash with Barcelona — the first of two legs in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarterfinals, with a Liga F match in between — eager to demonstrate their increasing competitiveness against their rivals, an emerging force striving to match the established dominance in Spain and Europe.
This aspiration lasted a mere six minutes, as Ewa Pajor scored to give Barça the lead. Seven minutes later, Esmee Brugts extended the advantage to 2-0, quieting the enthusiastic crowd at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium, as Barça ultimately triumphed 6-2.
“In the last three Clásicos, we’ve had opportunities to take the lead but haven’t been clinical,” Madrid coach Pau Quesada stated before the match. “We’ll aim for 90 minutes of perfection, as 70 won’t suffice in these encounters.”
This proved to be an overly ambitious goal. Barcelona’s record in this matchup is nearly impeccable — with 21 victories and just one loss prior to Wednesday’s encounter at Valdebebas — and based on this match, there is unlikely to be any alteration in that statistic anytime soon.
Only the exceptionally skilled Linda Caicedo offered significant resistance, her two well-executed goals keeping Madrid barely in contention. Her second-half goal, struck into the top corner, elicited gasps and cheers from the crowd, who hoped there was still a chance in this quarterfinal.
Overall, however, this was often a disheartening experience for a Madrid team that is beginning to feel more at ease at this level, reaching the UWCL quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. Yet, they are far from matching Barcelona’s formidable European credentials, as perennial semifinalists and beyond.
Barcelona’s opening goal came too easily, although the final pass, a deftly lifted assist from Barça midfielder Patri Guijarro over the defense, was expertly executed. Pajor, a familiar adversary for Madrid, finished the job. Their second goal was peculiar, as goalkeeper Misa’s save from Brugts’ header only caused the ball to loop high into the air and into the net at the far post.
Misa redeemed herself four minutes later, thwarting Pajor in a one-on-one situation, and there was a glimmer of hope for Madrid when Caicedo scored to make it 2-1 with her first goal against Barcelona. Caicedo’s run was impeccably timed, as she fended off Irene Paredes’ challenge before maneuvering around keeper Cata Coll, who remained upright for as long as possible. Caicedo waited even longer.
At last, the crowd at the Di Stéfano made some noise, but it was short-lived. Just two minutes later, Paredes’ unstoppable header from Clàudia Pina’s corner restored the lead to 3-1 and effectively concluded the match.
Despite their dominance in this match, Barcelona had previously only scored five or more goals away at Madrid once, during the Copa de la Reina semifinals in 2025. In the second half, as they increased their lead with another composed finish from Pajor and then another from Vicky López in the 64th minute, some home fans began to rise and head for the exits.
Those who left missed Caicedo’s goal-of-the-week contender, but there was still time for Alexia Putellas to convert an 89th-minute penalty, putting the match — and likely the tie — well beyond Madrid’s reach at 6-2. Madrid’s advancement in this fixture is undeniable. Their long-awaited first victory over Barça came, almost unexpectedly, in March 2025. However, on nights like this, the gap between the two teams still appears substantial and challenging to close.
The 6-2 Clásico scoreline is a well-known one from the men’s game. Seventeen years ago, in May 2009, Pep Guardiola’s Barça achieved a 6-2 victory at the Bernabéu. Here, the women’s team created their own piece of history.
“We’re pleased,” Guijarro remarked after the match. “It’s the first leg. We’ll give 200% in the second leg as well. I believe we earned this result.”
“With this outcome, it might seem like we’ll relax on Sunday, and that with a four-goal lead, we’ll take it easy in the second leg. But quite the opposite. You know us.”
Madrid struggled in midfield, where Caroline Weir was unable to assert her usual influence and was substituted after 65 minutes. Only Caicedo’s individual brilliance could compete, and that alone was insufficient.
At full time, Quesada gathered his players in a circle on the pitch, aiming to uplift their spirits ahead of the two upcoming Clásicos. Madrid cannot afford to dwell on this defeat or on conceding six goals at home. They must find a way to recover and maintain the belief that a different outcome is achievable, both this weekend and next Thursday.
