A world record crowd for a women’s football match of 91,553 saw Barcelona cruise into the Champions League semi-finals by thrashing Real Madrid 5-2 at Camp Nou on Wednesday to seal an 8-3 win on aggregate.The crowd figure surpassed the previous record for a women’s match when 90,185 watched the 1999 World Cup final between the United States and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.It also smashed the previous record attendance for a club fixture, set in March 2019 as 60,739 supporters saw Barca beat Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano.Barcelona were eager to give the fixture as much visibility as possible. The club’s 147,000 members were allowed 24 hours to book up to four free tickets, with only an administration charge due of Ksh320. Non-members were then able to buy tickets for between 1100 to 1900 shillings.
Barcelona produced a sensational display to thrash their rivals and reach the Women’s Champions League semi-finals as a vibrant Nou Camp rejoiced.The hosts took a 3-1 lead into the second leg and then came from 2-1 down to win 5-2 on the night for what was an emphatic aggregate victory. Barcelona looked to have effectively killed off the tie when Maria Pilar Leon’s cross looped in after eight minutes, but Real hit back immediately and threatened an upset.What an attendance! (©AFP)Olga Carmona converted from the penalty spot following a handball by Irene Paredes and Claudia Zornoza’s stunning strike put them ahead just after the break. But goals in quick succession from Aitana Bonmati and Claudia Pina put Barcelona back in control, before Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen added gloss to the success over their Spanish rivals.The defending champions will now face Arsenal or Wolfsburg in the last four.