Women’s Champions League: Barcelona and PSG earn slim first-leg advantages

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain scored second-half winners in their away victories in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The defending champions Barcelona defeated the Norwegian team Brann 2-1, while PSG earlier beat the Swedish club Häcken by the same scoreline.

Salma Paralluelo gave Barcelona victory with a low left-footed shot from inside the area in the 72nd minute for her competition-leading sixth goal this season. Caroline Graham Hansen, a Norway international, had put the holders ahead with a deflected shot less than 10 minutes into the match. Cecilie Kvamme equalised for the hosts from a tight angle before half-time to stun the competition favourites.

PSG defeated Häcken in Gothenburg with a 74th-minute winner by Tabitha Chawinga. “Offensively, I’m a little disappointed,” the PSG coach, Jocelyn Prêcheur, said. “We can show a better side to ourselves, especially in our stadium in Paris.”

Eva Gaetino had opened the scoring for PSG in the 23rd minute with her first professional goal. Rosa Kafaji equalised for the hosts three minutes before half-time, scoring off the rebound of her own missed penalty kick.

“We are disappointed but there were many things we did pretty well in the game,” the Häcken coach, Mak Lind, said. “It was good for us to experience this game, and it’s only the first half out of two. There’s one more game to play and we have a chance, for sure.”

On Tuesday in the other quarter-finals, Lyon and Chelsea also secured first-leg wins on the road. Lyon, the record eight-time champions, came from behind to beat Benfica 2-1, while Chelsea defeated Ajax 3-0 to move closer to a second successive appearance in the last four of Europe’s top competition.

The second legs for the PSG v Häcken and Barcelona v Brann matches will take place on 28 March, with the Chelsea v Ajax and Lyon v Benfica second legs on 27 March.