Key events
Have a read of our free weekly women’s football newsletter while we wait for the second half:
Here is that stunning Barca goal, neutrals may want Brann to win but there is no denying Barca’s brilliance:
Half-time! Barcelona 1-0 Brann (3-1 on agg)
Well defending champions Barcelona are in firm control of this tie thanks to a goal from Bonmati. Brann are playing well though and a fight back is expected in the second half.
45 + 1 min: Caldentey is in the box but Stenevik does well to block her. Caldentey wants a penalty but VAR says no.
45 + 1 min: There will be one minute added.
44 min: Rolfo to Putellas to Caldentey to out of play for a goal kick. Barcelona edging closer to a second in this second leg and just think they can still call upon Paralluelo from the bench. Graham Hansen has a lovely pass to Bronze who feeds it back to the Norway international, Graham Hansen runs straight into Mikalsen – the keeper okay to continue here but the Brann fans were not happy. A reminder that VAR is in operation here so anything untoward and it will be picked up.
42 min: It is one thing keeping yourself in a tie and it is another winning it. Brann need to be the next to score here, if not and you feel the tie is out of reach for them. So tricky as well as Brann are playing so well, they just can’t puncture the Barca defence.
40 min: You know when people ask who you’d want to narrate your life? I want Brann fans to support my life, these die hard fans are making the atmosphere so far.
38 min: Brann fans boos as play stops for Engen, who is down injured, but just as the visitors start to create a chance. Engen is soon back to her feet and okay to continue. Barca win the ball and it comes to Graham Hansen, whose shot is saved by Mikalesen – Brann fans jumping and chanting at that save.
36 min: Crummer puts pressure on Coll, who is forced to run it out and eventually deals with it well.
Gordon has emailed and said: “A great finish by Bonmati, for the Barcelona goal, but the chest pass on the turn by Putellas was exceptional.”
I completely agree, pure class from two Ballon d’Or winners.
34 min: Graham Hansen is brought down on the edge of the box by Haugland and Barcelona have a great free kick position. Putellas is over the ball but her effort is over the bar, she gets some jeers from the Brann fans.
32 min: Barcelona continue to push here, they aren’t content with their two-goal cushion.
30 min: Kielland pushes Putellas as the Barcelona captain doesn’t give up the ball. Brann come forward through Kvamme but Rolfo wins the ball back.
28 min: That goal means Brann need to score two unanswered goals just to send this tie to extra time. Their mole hill just became a mountain but the Brann fans are making their voices heard.
27 min: No they can’t. The delivery is poor, it’s hit back into the area but Kielland’s attempt is over the bar.
25 min: Bonmati picks up the ball on the turn, she contols with two touches and she fires home. Pure footballing skill. Brann now win a corner, can they hit back immediately?
GOAL! Barcelona 1-0 Brann (Bonmati, 24′ – 3-1 on agg)
I’m speechless
24 min: Graham Hansen was given the ball in the area and she had acres of space but she took two touches too many and then is crowded out. Another chance comes in, this time from Bronze but it is cleared.
22 min: Gaupset is threaded the ball from Kielland but the shot is weak and Coll collects. Brann do need to capitalise on the chances they do get as they are far and few between.
20 min: Barca continue to put pressure on Brann but the defensive line is still holding strong, the question will be if they can keep it up for the entire match while also creating their own attacking chance.
18 min: Putellas has a lovely cross in, it’s cleared but it comes to Bonmati whose shot is deflected wide – another corner. It’s a good delivery and Paredes heads but it is initially cleared. Barca come again and it’ meets Paredes’ head and Mikalsen is an absolute hero once again! Corner again, it’s defended well this time.
16 min: Oh my word, Barcelona are good aren’t they? They slickly get into the box but this time the effort is just over the bar from Caldentey – an opener in this second leg feels like it is coming.
14 min: Mikalsen makes a huge save, the keeper made countless in the first leg and she is stepping up again. Graham Hansen made a great run but Mikaelsen got a hand to it to send it out for a corner. It comes in but the keeper collects.
12 min: Gaupset does so well to get around two defenders but she is eventually muscled off the ball. Possession exchanges hands but play is stopped by the referee who gives Barca a free kick, they take it quickly and have patient build-up with Graham Hansen taking a shot but Mikalsen collects.
10 min: Paredes this time puts it in but it is just over the head of Brugts, all the early pressure coming from the hosts.
9 min: Cracking feet from Graham Hansen sees her dance her way into the box but her cross misses her teammates. Oh my word! Graham Hansen puts in a beautiful ball and it beats Mikalsen but also evades another Barcelona player so the chance is gone.
8 min: Brann counter and Kvamme pings the ball in and Gaupset gets a head to it, her attempt just wide. From the first leg we know all Brann need is one chance and everything will change.
6 min: Brugts wins yet another corner and Graham Hansen takes it this time, it’s headed away by Kvamme for – you guessed it – another corner. Graham Hansen is over the ball once again, they take it short and Bonmati eventually gets it into the box. It is well defended by Brann.
5 min: Putellas pops it in and Brann clear well. Every time Graham Hansen gets on the ball the travelling Brann support boo her, a great atmosphere in Barcelona.
4 min: The delivery looked good initially and seemed to be going all the way in but it is over the bar. Brann look to play out from the back but they immediately concede another corner.
3 min: Walsh finds Graham Hansen with a beautiful ball. She pops it into the box and tries to find Brugts but it is blocked out for a corner. Putellas takes the corner, she opts for the corner of the box and it comes to Brugts but her attempt is out for another corner.
2 min: Early on both teams are finding their feet, I’m expecting a tight game tonight but I bet Barcelona prove me wrong now I have said that.
Kick-off! Barcelona 0-0 Brann (2-1 on agg)
Here we go then! Can Brann cause a huge upset? Or will defending champions Barcelona cruise through? All to come.
Does anyone else absolutely love the Champions League anthem? I turn up my TV every time it comes on. Kick-off imminent.
The players are almost out in Barcelona and the weather looks stunning, perfect for a cracking match of football.
I’d love to hear from you. Yesterday we were talking biggest fails after I bruised my coccyx at a rollerdisco so I thought it would only be fair to speak today about biggest achievements. Let me know yours via X (@rendellx) or be email.
Last week’s goalscorer and Brann captain Cecilie Kvamme added: “Right now this is a match we are really looking forward to, especially because of the result we got last week which means that there is still life in the tie. We go in with the goal of winning. You always do that when you play.
Brann boss Martin Ho said: “We have a good chance to progress, because we feel that we had opportunities in the first match where we could have done better with the ball. We have to make sure we are relentless when we get the chance.”
Jonatan Giráldez, Barcelona’s manager, said: “We have scored plenty of goals and if we are able to produce a similar outcome, we would have a great chance of going through. Brann are are brave and aggressive in defence. It will be similar to the first leg.
“For me the key is consistency. There is very few teams in the world capable of being this consistent.”
The Guardian’s Suzy Wrack is reporting exclusively that Leicester City manager Willie Kirk has been fired over his alleged relationship with a player at the club. Read more here:
Chelsea played the second leg of their quarter-final last night against Ajax. That game ended 1-1 but with Chelsea winning the first leg 3-0 it was Emma Hayes’ side who came out on top:
The team news is in. Barcelona have benched Salma Paralluelo, who scored the winner in the first leg.
Barcelona:
Brann, meanwhile, do have star Signe Gaupset despite her going off earlier than expected in the first leg.
Brann:
Preamble
Hello and welcome back to the Women’s Champions League. This evening we will find out who will face Chelsea in the semi-finals as the winner of this quarter-final tie have been drawn against the Blues.
The first leg saw Brann play really well, they conceded early after Caroline Graham Hanse scored but they levelled though Cecilie Kvamme. The Norwegian team, in the quarters for the first time, defended really well and it took some skill from Salma Paralluelo to get the result for the defending champions.
Barcelona only hold a slim 2-1 lead but it will be a tricky task for Brann to beat the Spanish team at home. They need to at least win the game in 90 minute 1-0 to send it to extra time.
The team news will be out shortly so stay tuned before kick-off at 5.45pm GMT.
