Salma Paralluelo’s fine individual goal was the difference as Barcelona secured a 1-0 win over Roma in the first leg of the Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
Almost 40,000 supporters were in place at Stadio Olimpico to see Paralluelo score the game’s only goal 11 minutes before half-time with a lovely low curling shot from the edge of the box. It was the teenager’s first goal in the competition.
Barcelona have won all of their 22 Liga F games this season, so it was no surprise that the Catalan giants dominated from the outset.
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Maria Leon fired a shot just wide and Caroline Graham Hansen forced a decent save from goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar before Paralluelo opened the scoring, albeit in controversial circumstances. Roma felt there was a foul in the build-up and the goal was greeted by loud jeers from the home fans.
Ceasar had to be alert to deny Graham Hansen on the stroke of half-time, and the Barcelona pressure continued after the restart, with the Roma goalkeeper pulling off a great save to keep out Asisat Oshoala’s point-blank effort.
Valentina Giacinti almost grabbed a surprise equaliser for the hosts, and at the other end, Ceaser was keeping Roma in the contest, saving from Patricia Guijarro’s effort.
With the game becoming more stretched and Roma taking more risks, they were almost rewarded when Vicky Losada got in behind the Barcelona defence but couldn’t a way past Sandra Panos. Andressa Alves went even closer when she fired wide with the goalkeeper all at sea.
There was one final opportunity for Roma deep into stoppage-time when Panos again came to Barcelona’s rescue with a big save to repel Giacinti.
The tie remains perfectly poised when sides meet again on March 29 for a place in the last four.
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