Alexia Putellas during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Final match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at Camp Nou on March 30, 2022 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Barcelona Femeni set women’s world attendance record
Players celebrate a goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League match between FC Barcelona Femeni and Real Madrid Femenino at Camp Nou. (Photo by Thiago Prudencio/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Barcelona beat Real Madrid in front of record crowd at Camp Nou
Barcelona were not going to be denied and mounted a comeback after falling 2-1 down to Real Madrid in the second leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
The Blaugrana came back to win 5-2 to put a stamp on an historic night for women’s football — and football in general.
Not only did they progress to the semifinals in a rout in El Clasico, they set an attendance record in the process.
There were 91,553 fans in attendance, breaking the previous record of 90,185 set back in the 1999 World Cup final at the Rose Bowl in California between the United States Women’s National Team and China.
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 to seal an 8-3 win on aggregate. (Photo by JOSEP LAGO/AFP via Getty Images)
Mapi Leon got the festivities started for Barcelona as the defender scored the opening goal. Despite being down by three on aggregate, Real Madrid tried their best to douse the mood by scoring twice and going ahead.
Nothing was going to spoil the occasion for Barcelona as they quickly equalized thanks to Aitana Bonmati. Claudia Pina would end up scoring the winner with Alexia Putellas and Caroline Graham Hansen scoring the fourth and fifth goal, respectively, to add more icing to the cake.
The atmosphere was electric pre-match and throughout the game. After the final whistle, the players did a lap of honor with the over 91,500 supporters still in attendance.
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Progressing to the next round of the Champions League was the goal for the reigning champions but to do so in front of a record breaking crowd was special for the players.
“I have no words, honestly,” midfielder Putellas told DAZN after the game. “It was magical. The game ended and the fans didn’t want to leave. We have that connection.
“They were singing that they want to be in Turin [where the final will be held]. It’s incredible. I can only thank them, not just with words, but with hard work every day, competing in every game and trying to win everything.”
Source: ESPN
Once the draw was made official, the club announced the second leg was to be played at the Camp Nou and heavily promoted the occasion. They made it feel important and the Barcelona supporters showed up.
“At the end of the match I had to hold my tears back because this is just too crazy,” Graham Hansen told reporters. “It’s one thing is to play at Camp Nou, but when it’s full, winning 5-2 in the Champions League and the fans aren’t leaving, they’re staying to celebrate with us!
“I did not imagine anything like it, goosebumps all over the place. It’s not only 91,500 here tonight, it’s 91.500 Barca fans here tonight and they have been singing all game and it’s been amazing. It’s something I never dreamt of happening, but we did it and hopefully it’s not the last time we do this.”
Source: ESPN
It won’t be the last time Barcelona do this. As it stands, the first leg of the semifinals is also set to take place at the Camp Nou. With a trip to the final on the line, they may have a chance at breaking their own record.
