Thank you for joining me for this first leg of Brann v Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League. Brann remain in the tie but Barca have thrown the first punch. The round-up for that match and other action will drop here shortly. We will be back next week with more UWCL games, for now have a good evening.
So a sum up of the quarter-finals as they stand:
Lyon 2-1 Benfica
Chelsea 3-0 Ajax
Barcelona 2-1 Brann
PSG 2-1 Hacken
Here’s a fun fact for you:
For the first time in the 23-year history of the @UWCL, all four quarter-final first legs have been won by the away side (all group stage winners) #BrannBarça pic.twitter.com/Wm89jZHYQ8
— Asif Burhan (@AsifBurhan) March 20, 2024
The task ahead for Brann is a tough one, they now have to beat Barcelona at home in order to progress. A 1-0 victory would see the tie pushed to extra time and then potentially penalties. But they will take from this that they are still in the quarter-final, they weren’t demolished by the defending champions.
A word for Mikalsen. She has made multiple saves to keep her side in this tie. Her defenders also did their job but my word the keeper has earned her stripes this evening.
Full time! Brann 1-2 Barcelona
Barcelona have got the job done in the first leg but Brann have allowed themselves some space to cause an upset in this quarter-final. Graham Hansen opened the scoring but Kvamme set the stadium alight with her equaliser. Paralluelo eventually battered down the defence to give the defending champions the upperhand. What a match.
90 + 4 min: It comes in but it is eventually cleared. Brann try to counter but the chance is stopped.
90 + 4 min: Oh my word, what a goal that would have been. What a save it was from Mikalsen, Bonmati takes a long range effort and the keeper tips it onto the bar and over. Corner to come.
90 + 3 min: Bronze hits the deck and Barca have a free kick, they take it quickly but they have to build from deep here.
90 + 1 min: There will be four minutes added.
90 min: Kvamme is beaten but Stenevik cuts out a ball heading to Putellas. Barcelona make more changes with Paralluelo is off for Brugts and Graham Hansen out for Lopez.
89 min: What a lovely ball from Putellas, it almost finds Bonmati but Brann’s defence comes good once again.
87 min: Brann are taking no chances with one of their star players and Gaupset is replaced by Svendheim.
86 min: Rolfo crosses into the box but Haugland clears, she has also been a key cog in Brann’s defensive machine this evening. Barca come again but Paralluelo’s shot is blocked, it falls to Bronze but Mikalsen saves her effort. In that play Gaupset has picked up an injury, she is down.
84 min: Barcelona have a corner. It is taken short and then put in by Bronze but it’s cleared well. The visitors continue to come forward, can they find another? Not just yet with some good defence from Brann.
82 min: It is important to note that Brann have just started their domestic season again and so they haven’t been playing competitive matches aside from the UWCL for a while, it makes this performance even more impressive.
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80 min: Brann make some changes with Kielland off for Renmark, Crummer off for Aahjem and Tynnila off for Ritter. Barcelona also make a change with Pina on for Caldentey.
78 min: Barca remain in full control here but as we have seen in the first half, Brann only need one chance to get a goal.
76 min: Barca again win a free kick, Brann not falling apart but their discipline since conceding again has not been good. Paralluelo takes the free kick but Lund blocks.
75 min: Barca win a free kick and Graham Hansen sees it in. It pinballs around but Gaupset does well to clear.
73 min: Barca move the ball quickly and it meets Binmati in the box, she passes to Paralluelo whose shot it deflected in. Barca make their first changes with Patri and Batlle off for Putellas and Tolfo.
Updated
GOAL! Brann 1-2 Barcelona (Paralluelo, 72')
A lovely move and Barca are in.
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72 min: Stenevik has been a brick wall in defence, Graham Hansen pops it in but she clears once more.
70 min: Barcelona again with the really long build-up, they have played like this so often in this match that Brann are sitting off until Barca go for the pincer move. The cross comes in but it is blocked, it comes to Paredes but her effort is way wide.
68 min: The fact I haven’t really mentioned Walsh so far tells you all you need to know about Brann’s performance so far. Whenever she is kept quiet in a match a team is struggling, whether that be club or country.
67 min: Here come Barca again, this time through Bonmati. She tries to find Caldentey but Stenevik clears.
65 min: Ostenstad stands firm as Barca try to thread a ball into the area and she clears. The visitors come again and Graham Hansen is allowed acres of space, she takes a shot but it is just wide. The camera pans to Caldentey who looks frustrated as she could have potentially tapped home there.
63 min: They are checking a challenge on Caldentey in the box, it looked like she had been tripped but VAR says no penalty.
62 min: Oh hang on. There is a penalty check here, one for Barcelona.
62 min: Barcelona are patient on their build-up but are taking a touch too long to pull the trigger at the moment, they are allowing Brann to organise defensively. They come forward now, it’s crossed in but Mikalsen comes out to collect.
60 min: Eikeland’s first touch of the game wins a throw in in a good position. They work it well to begin with but Barcelona win it back and it’s passed to Coll, Crummer runs towards her but the keeper just about sees off the pressure. Brann get into another attacking position moments later but Crummer is ruled offside, the hosts are growing into this leg.
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58 min: Graham Hansen takes the free kick with the target being Bronze but it has too much on it and it is out for a goal kick.
56 min: Brann lose the ball in a tricky position but Haugland works really hard to win it back. Possession exchanges hands but it is Barca who are back with it – Haugland hounds Caldentey but eventually gives away a foul and Barca have a free kick. Before it is taken Brann make a change with Engesvik off for Eikeland.
54 min: Graham Hansen finds Paralluelo, who leaps to put in a header but it is cleared. Barca have all the momentum once again in this half.
52 min: Bronze wanted a free kick there but it isn’t given. Barca do continue to press forward though and they are so slick in transition, Engen puts in a beautiful ball and it’s loose. It comes to Bronze but she can’t control.
50 min: Paralluelo pops it in but Haugland heads clear. Unsurprisingly Barca are still in possession and they try to feed Paralluelo but she is muscled off the ball – the Spanish forward has been kept relatively quiet so far.
48 min: Graham Hansen is given way too much space as she runs into space, she lays it off and it is passed back to her but her shot is blocked. Barca continue to come forward and Paralluelo wins a corner.
47 min: Barcelona have not lost a game this season, will this be the first? Well Brann have started this second half well, pinning Barca in their half.
Back underway! Brann 1-1 Barcelona
Can Brann maintain the draw? Get a win? Or will Barcelona capitalise on their domination? All to play for.
Gordon has emailed and said: “Barcelona are brilliant, with their passing, interchanging of players, and defenders in advanced positions, but they do have a weakness - shooting. Telling that their only goal so far was a deflection.”
I think I will have to disagree with you here. Yes some of Barcelona’s shots haven’t been on target but I think it is more because Mikalsen has put in some amazing saves which is why Barca have only scored one.
Here are the two goals so far:
BRANN LEVEL BY WAY OF CECILIE KVAMME! 🔴
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 20, 2024
Watch SK Brann vs. FC Barcelona LIVE and FREE on https://t.co/hmF5i7LtAZ #UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/S8eewWzTmK
Caroline Graham Hansen... Ice in her 'Norwegian' viens. 🥶
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) March 20, 2024
Watch SK Brann vs. FC Barcelona LIVE and FREE on https://t.co/hmF5i7LtAZ #UWCLonDAZN #NewDealforWomensFootball pic.twitter.com/6PJDC9Mnyc
Kvamme has given a half-time interview and said: “Not bad, even though they have most of the possession. I think we are putting in a really good fight. It’s unreal [to score] I don’t think words can explain it.”
Half-time! Brann 1-1 Barcelona
Well how about this? Barcelona opened the scoring through Caroline Graham Hansen but Brann defended well for the rest of the half. This left the door open for an equaliser and Cecilie Kvamme took it, the celebrations were wild. Game on.
45 + 1 min: There will be one minute added.
45 min: The atmosphere of this game has changed. Five minutes ago it felt as though Brann were fighting for their lives to remain in this tie and now they are so confident, what a difference a goal makes.
43 min: Graham Hansen pings it in but Brann are again quick to it and clear. I thought the fans were loud before but now, they are deafening.
42 min: The scenes in the stands when that goal went in were incredible, if Brann can continue to hold Barca to one goal all they need is one more chance and they could lead. Just as I say that Barca get another chance and Mikalsen saves, she sends it behind for a corner.
40 min: Brann were quick to break, the ball came across the goal and Coll covered ground but Kvamme finds the cutest of angles to score. This tie has been blown wide open.
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GOAL! Brann 1-1 Barcelona (Kvamme, 39')
WOW!
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39 min: Yet another save for Mikalsen, she has been called into action every few minutes here. Paralluelo this time has a shot but it is straight at the keeper. Barcelona have had 21 shots so far, a huge defensive effort has gone in to keeping them to one goal.
37 min: WHAT A SAVE. Graham Hansen has the cross in, Bronze heads it to Caldentey whose shot is saved by the Norwegian, amazing reflexes.
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35 min: Caldentey saved Brann’s blushes there, Mikalsen has a sloppy pass out of the back and Barca pick it up. Caldentey is passed the ball but her effort is over the bar. Barca keep coming and Mikalsen is forced into another save, the visitors win another corner. Bonmati took a knock amidst that but she is okay to continue.
34 min: How is that not in? Wow, both good and bad defence from Brann. Paralluelo pops in a great ball, though she had too much space. It comes to Graham Hansen but Mikalsen closes her down well to stop her having a clean sheet.
32 min: Barca were so close to doubling their lead, you can hear the ball smacking Mikalsen as she makes a great save from a Bronze shot.
30 min: Stenevik does really well to dispossess Barca on the edge of the box and she passes to Gaupset, she peels away but eventually is closed down. Well Brann may not have scored yet but their fans are fiercely behind them, they have not stopped all match.
28 min: Barcelona seem to be in second gear but they are utterly dominant so far, it’s scary how good they are. They are coming forward again, Brann’s press is doing enough to disrupt them at the moment.
Updated
26 min: Graham Hansen pops it in and it is initially cleared. It comes out to Paralluelo but her shot is blocked by Stenevik. A second goal for Barca feels inevitable, just a question of when not if.
24 min: Barca were in full flight and looking to be creating a good attack but Bronze’s pass has too much on it and the danger is quelled for now. And Barca are immediately back to what they do best, attacking. They win a corner.
22 min: Gaupset has a good run and she sees Coll off of her line so she takes a long range effort but it is over the bar, arguably should have kept that and formed more build-up but definitely worth a punt. Barca immediately counter and Graham Hansen takes a shot but it is just wide – jeers from the fans with that miss.
20 min: A lovely ball over the top to Graham Hansen, who gets boos by her former club fans. It eventually comes to Batlle in the box but her shot is collected by Mikalsen.
18 min: Lund with a really good defensive header as Patri pops the ball into the area. But it is not long until Barcelona are on the attack once again, it comes to Bonmati but she is judged to be offside – I’m don’t think she was.
Updated
16 min: Barca take the corner short but Bonmati gets the ball in, it comes to Paralluelo but Brann do enough to block the chance. It’s the visitors looking more dangerous so far. They continue to pepper Brann’s defensive line, the latest chance seeing Paralluelo’s chance hitting a wall – they are really pressing for a second.
14 min: Batlle closes out Gaupset on the edge of the area, a really good battle forming there. The chance stays alive though and it comes to Lund but her effort is over the bar – a really bright response from Brann after conceding. Barca get the ball and counter and Brann concede another corner.
12 min: “When watching as a neutral I’m usually rooting for the underdog or at least a good match, but there’s something blood thirsty this Barca side brings out in me,” Zach Neeley emailed. “I want to see them score 6 or 7.”
I am unsure many neutrals will feel the same way but Barca are well on their way. Back to the match and Brann are looking to hit back here with Kvamme popping a ball into the box but it is dealt with by Barca.
10 min: It all came from a corner which Graham Hansen took herself, it bundles around and comes to CGH and she took a punt. It hit a defender to take it away from Mikalsen.
GOAL! Brann 0-1 Barcelona (Graham Hansen, 9)
That took a deflection but I think CGH will be awarded the goal.
Updated
8 min: Barca work it to the edge of the area and it falls to Patri who takes a punt but Mikalsen saves. That was the best chance of the game so far and it didn’t bother the keeper. The defending champions come again and it’s popped in for Bronze but she can’t control.
6 min: Brann are living dangerously as they continue to play out of the back. They eventually work it out of their own half and Kvamme tries to find a way forward but she is then ruled offside.
4 min: The fans are in full voice early doors, the atmosphere is electric. Barca continue to have the lionshare of possession and they have been happy to take their time on their build-up, they eventually come forward but they are muscled off of the ball – much to the delight of these vocal fans.
2 min: Both teams are finding their feet but Barca are the ones with the early possession.
“I definitely see an upset in this Brann team,” Peter Oh has emailed. “It’s right there in midfielder Signe Gaupset’s surname!”
Oh I am so frustrated I didn’t see that pub, I tip my hat Peter.
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Kick-off! Brann 0-0 Barcelona
This is the first time Brann have reached the quarter-finals, can they cause a shock in this tie? All of the action to come.
The players are out here now, not long until kick-off. The stands looked stacked.
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Our free weekly women’s football newsletter Moving the Goalposts focuses on the Women’s Champions League, have a read:
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Paris Saint-Germain have recorded a 2-1 win over Häcken after two goals from Tabitha Chawinga.
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A reminder that the quarter-final this evening will have VAR in operation. All four quarters have had it in use with Chelsea’s game last night seeing two interventions.
A lot of old songs are becoming popular again after their use in TV and film but what song would you want to come back around? I think mine would be Human League, don’t you want me. Get in touch and let me know via email or X (@rendellx)
Barcelona manager Jonatan Giráldez said: “A complicated match, because it is a quarter-final, because we are playing on an artificial pitch, because it will be cold there, because they are playing at home and their fans are up for it, they are motivated.
“Brann had a great group stage, they conceded very few goals, they won all the games except against Lyon and managed to get a draw against them. We will have to adapt quickly and start the game very well. If we control the start of the match, we will have more options to play the way we want.”
Brann coach Martin Ho has said: “It’s an opportunity for the players to go and play against the world’s best players and in my opinion, arguably the best team in world football and has been for the last three four years under Jonatan [Giráldez].
“I’ve said to the players it gives them an opportunity to put themselves in a shop window for future moves if you perform well in two legs against this team. Whether in your head, you think it’s going to be a tough ask. If you can’t be motivated to play in these games, then you’re probably in the wrong sport.”
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The first two quarter-finals took place yesterday with Chelsea beating Ajax 3-0 and Lyon squeaked past Benfica 2-1. You can catch up with all the Chelsea action from the report below. The second leg of those ties will take place next week:
The third quarter-final started earlier this evening between Häcken and Paris Saint-Germain. The match is currently standing at 1-1.
The team news is in!
Brann: Mikalsen, Stenevik, Ostenstad, Tynnila, Kvamme, Kielland, Haugland, Lund, Engesvild, Gaupset, Crummer.
Barcelona:
📋𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗢́ pic.twitter.com/5ZviYBeAMH
— FC Barcelona Femení (@FCBfemeni) March 20, 2024
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League, today we are focusing on Brann v Barcelona. It will be quite a feat for Brann to overcome the defending champions but they are more than up for the challenge.
This quarter-final starts in Norway and there has been a lot said about the electric atmosphere produced by Brann’s fans. They have produced upsets in the competition already to back up the support from supporters, the team’s best result coming in a 2-2 draw with Lyon in the group stage.
But they come up against another European beast in Barca. Favourites to win the title yet again this season, they have a formidable team full of stars which Brann will have to contain to give themselves a fighting change over two legs.
So shall we see who is playing for both teams? The line-ups will be released shortly so stay tuned for updates.
