With one boot already in the semi-finals of the 2023/24 UEFA Women’s Champions League after returning from Norway with a one-goal advantage from the first leg, Barcelona recalled Lucy Bronze, Alexia Putellas, Esmee Brugts and Mariona Caldentey, following their dominant success in El Clásico. 

Meanwhile, SK Brann Kvinner were looking to cause a momentous upset on the occasion, not only by overturning a deficit, but also condemning the European giants to their first home defeat since February 2019. Regarding the visitors’ team news for Thursday evening’s uphill task at the Estadi Johan Cruyff, manager Martin Ho named a familiar-looking unchanged XI. 

BAR: Coll; Rolfö, Engen, Paredes, Bronze, Putellas, Walsh, Bonmatí, Brugts, Caldentey, Hansen 

BRA: Mikalsen; Stenevik, Tynnilä, Østenstad; Kvamme, Haugland, Kielland, Lund, Gaupset, Engesvik, Crummer

Ominously for Brann, Barcelona had staggeringly not ended a competitive encounter on the losing side so far this season, as the hosts commenced proceedings assertively back on home soil. Aurora Mikalsen narrowly denied the in-form figure of Caroline Graham Hansen with two smart quick-fire saves. Irene Paredes made her way up from the back not long after to force another save from the Brann goalkeeper, as Jonatan Giráldez’s side continued their determined pursuit of breaking the deadlock. 

The breaking moment in the game unsurprisingly came in the 24th minute, as the winner of the 2023 Ballon d’Or Féminin award, Aitana Bonmatí, showcased why exactly she is considered one of the best players in the world/ The midfielder waved her magic on the ball, keeping defenders guessing as to what she would do next, before unleashing an exquisite strike past Mikalsen into the far corner.

Mariona Caldentey came close on a number of occasions to doubling Barcelona’s advantage, as she fired two efforts millimetres wide of the woodwork before the sound of referee Ivana Martinčić’s whistle blew for half-time. 

On course to meet Chelsea in the last four, Barcelona confirmed their progression in the 56th minute as magnificent build-up play from Hansen allowed Fridolina Rolfö to accomplish the simple task of tapping the ball home into the back of the net from underneath the crossbar, after the Norwegian international’s initial delivery had taken a fortuitous deflection off the leg of Marthine Østenstad. 

Just moments after, Caldentey had somehow fired her one-on-one effort up against Mikalsen over the top of the crossbar, Brann stormed down the field, and netted what turned out to be a potential glimmer of hope in the tie, as 18-year-old substitute Tomine Svendheim slotted her attempt exquisitely past Cata Coll, as the assistance of the paintwork on the right-hand post saw her get one back for the visitors.

Goalscorer Rolfö hit the outside post with an instinctive effort not long after second-half substitute Svendheim had netted her first-ever goal in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. 

However, the visitors’ dreams of a miraculous late comeback were extinguished in the 88th minute, as another awe-inspiring run down the flank from Hansen allowed Patricia Guijarro to tap Bonmatí’s mistimed shot in at the back post to set up next month’s mouthwatering semi-final clash against reigning Barclays Women’s Super League champions Chelsea.