FC Barcelona Women Advance to UEFA Women's Champions League Final
Historic Victory Seals Spot in Showpiece Event
Guijarro and Hansen Shine in Semi-Final Thriller
FC Barcelona Women have secured their place in the UEFA Women's Champions League final after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the semi-final first leg on Saturday. The Catalan giants took the lead through Patri Guijarro in the first half before Caroline Graham Hansen doubled their advantage with a stunning strike after the break. Bayern pulled one back through an own goal, but Barca held on for a vital victory.
The result leaves Barcelona in a commanding position heading into the second leg at Allianz Arena on April 29. The Spanish champions need only a draw to reach their second Champions League final in three years and have their sights set on a historic treble this season. Bayern, meanwhile, face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit but will be buoyed by their impressive performance in the first leg.
The match was played in front of a raucous crowd at Spotify Camp Nou, with over 28,000 fans witnessing a memorable night for the Blaugrana. Guijarro opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a low drive after great work from Hansen. The Norwegian star doubled Barca's lead just minutes into the second half, firing a stunning shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.
Bayern pulled one back in the 60th minute through an own goal from Irene Paredes, but the German champions could not find an equalizer despite their best efforts. Barca held on for a hard-fought victory and will now be looking to finish the job in Munich next week.
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