Barça did not make a detail in a Camp Nou copiously filled by outclassing 5 goals to 1 AS Roma, already beaten 1-0 in the first leg, then Arsenal turned the situation around by winning 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium against Bayern Munich, winner 1-0 in Germany.

In the semi-finals (first leg 22 April, second leg 29 April), Barcelona will face Chelsea or Lyon, defending champions and eight-time winners of the event (a record). And Arsenal at Wolfsburg or Paris SG.

At the Emirates in London, in the rain, the Londoners made up for it and took the lead in two minutes, with goals from Norway's Frida Leonhardsen-Maanum, from a strike in the middle of the window (20th), and Sweden's Stina Blackstenius, from the header, to the reception of a center of the Irish Katie McCabe (26th).

Dominating much of the match, Swedish coach Jonas Eidevall's players had several chances to aggravate the score but showed clumsiness in front of the opposing goal and had to draw to resist the onslaught of the Germans late in the game.

Arsenal, currently fourth in the Women's Super League, and runner-up in 2022 behind Chelsea, won the Women's C1 in 2007.

In Barcelona, on the other hand, there is no suspense. The Catalans regaled a Camp Nou copiously filled by inflicting a very heavy 5-1 to the Romans overwhelmed and already beaten (1-0) in the first leg.

Ultra domineering, the Catalans scored by Sweden's Fridolina Rolfö (11th, 45+3), Mapi Leon (33rd), Nigerian centre-forward Asisat Oshoala (46th) and finally Patricia Guijarro (54th).

Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius (l) edges Bayern midfielder Saki Kumagai on March 29, 2023 in London © JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

Roma saved the honour through Annamaria Serturini with a low cross at the entrance of the box (58th).

Barça, who remain on three Spanish league titles in a row, still outrageously dominate the Women's Liga this season with thirteen points ahead of Real Madrid (2nd) after 23 rounds.

Barcelona won the C1 in 2021 (4-0 against Chelsea in the final) and lost in the final against Lyon (3-1) last year.

Quarter-final results

(+) FC Barcelona (ESP) - AS Rome (ITA) 5-1 (first leg: 1-0)

(+) Arsenal (ENG) v Bayern Munich (GER) 2-0 (first leg: 0-1)

Thursday

(18:45) Wolfsburg (GER) - Paris SG (FRA)

(21:00) Chelsea (ENG) - Lyon (FRA)

NB: qualified clubs preceded by the sign (+)

© 2023 AFP