By Iyinola Kunle
Barcelona book a place in the semi-final against Chelsea or Lyon after sidestepping Roma.
Asisat Oshoala scored and assisted as Barcelona confirmed their place in the semi-final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League thanks to a 5-1 thumping on the night and a 6-1 aggregate result.
After a 1-0 win in Rome, it was Barcelona’s turn to play host. On a ground not unfamiliar with European nights, the Camp Nou was lively from start to finish, egging Jonatan Giraldes’ side to a mammoth result
The first leg was an exhibition of missed chances, with a 1-0 win for Barcelona flattering Roma, and it showed in the second-leg.
Buoyed by a packed Camp Nou, the Blaugrana started with a pop and went ahead as early as the 11th minute when Oshoala cushioned the ball onto the path of Fridolina Rolfo with her chest. In turn, the Swede fired past the helpless Camellia Caesar, who was brilliant in the first leg.
The goal forced Roma to set a deep block, crowding the box and daring Barcelona players to attempt shots from distance as they applied fiddle to no pressure on the woman on the ball.
Mapi Leon took the invitation in the 33rd minute of the game with a sumptuous striker that sent Camp Nou rocking.
The dam was broken, and in time, the hosts scored more. Fridolina Rolfo grabbed her brace on the night, getting on the end of a Caroline Graham Hansen delivery.
Barcelona removed all doubts and banished any sort of motivation the Roma players might have mustered from a half-time team talk when they scored immediately after returning from the break.
Oshoala finished off a sweeping counterattack, showing her pace as she and Aitana Bonmati broke into the I Giallorossi half before the latter squared the ball to her to finish from close range
Barcelona made it five less than ten minutes after Patri Guijarro headed Caroline’s cross
However, Roma would grab a consolation goal after Annamaria Serturini finished from a devastating counterattack
