Preview: Barcelona Women vs. Real Madrid Femenino - prediction, team news, lineups

A memorable night is in store on Wednesday with a sold-out Camp Nou the venue for an almighty El Clasico contest as Barcelona Women and Real Madrid Femenino battle it out for a place in the Women's Champions League semi-finals.

The hosts hold the advantage after the first leg of the quarter-final ended in a 3-1 victory for the reigning European champions.

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Match preview

Although the first leg scoreline suggests that Jonatan Giraldez's side enjoyed a routine victory, that was far from the case as Barcelona were forced to come from a goal down to beat their rivals.

An uncharacteristically lacklustre display from the Spanish champions in the first half enabled Real Madrid to take a one-goal lead into half time thanks to a clinical strike from Olga Carmona.

However, the defending European champions were given a way back into the encounter when Alexis Putellas equalised from the spot before Claudia Pina came off the bench to put her side in front, and the first leg win was sealed when Putellas proved why she is the current holder of the Ballon d'Or as she completed the 3-1 victory with a delicate chipped finish.

Despite already wrapping up the league title, Barcelona maintained their 100% record for the season with a 2-1 victory over Madrid CFF at the weekend to set them up nicely for a pivotal European contest on Wednesday.

Although playing in front of a capacity crowd at the Camp Nou will bring its own challenges, Barcelona will be confident that they can ease through to the semi-finals, having not lost a home Champions League match since March 2018.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, will be fully aware that their task is a near-impossible one, as they head to the Camp Nou knowing that a win by a two-goal margin is needed to send the contest to extra time.

After losing at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium last Wednesday, Las Blancas bounced back with a win at the weekend as they claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Levante in dramatic circumstances to keep their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League alive.

With the game heading towards a goalless draw, Real Madrid's late pressure paid off, with Lorena Navarro coming off the bench to stab the ball home in the 90th minute.

As they turn their attention to the second leg of their quarter-final, Alberto Toril's charges can take inspiration from three of their four Champions League away matches this season resulting in victory.

Wednesday's visitors will be under no illusions about how difficult the second leg will be, with Real Madrid still searching for their first win over Barcelona, while they have already lost three matches to their rivals in 2022.

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Team News

Barcelona have a number of absentees, with the likes of Lieke Martens, Asisat Oshoala and Mariona Caldentey all missing for the hosts due to injury issues.

Giraldez rested a number of key players at the weekend, with the Barcelona boss expected to name a similar lineup to the one that started at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.

Irene Paredes could start at centre-back after featuring as a substitute in the first leg, while Pina may have to settle for a place on the bench despite scoring in the 3-1 victory.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, are still without Kosovare Asllani, Aurelie Kaci and Marta Cardona for the second leg at the Camp Nou.

Despite scoring the winner against Levante, Navarro will remain on the bench, while Babett Peter is expected to return to the backline after being rested at the weekend.

Carmona dropped out of the side on Saturday, but the 21-year-old is set to be included in the starting lineup as Real Madrid bid to overturn a two-goal deficit.

Barcelona Women possible starting lineup:

Panos; Torrejon, Paredes, Leon, Ouahabi; Bonmati, Guijarro, Putellas; Hansen, Rolfo, Hermoso

Real Madrid Femenino possible starting lineup:

Misa; Robles, Peter, Galvez, Svava; Abelleira, Zornoza; Del Castillo, Oroz, Carmona; Gonzalez

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We say: Barcelona Women 3-0 Real Madrid Femenino

Less than three weeks ago, Barcelona swept past Real Madrid at home in the league with the hosts winning 5-0 on that occasion, and with a capacity crowd set to fill Barcelona's iconic arena on Wednesday, we expect the current Champions League holders to demonstrate why they are favourites to retain their European crown this term.