Champions League: Mixed results for Scots in quarter-finals
Heavy defeats for Caroline Weir and Fiona Brown, but encouraging result for Erin Cuthbert
Scottish hopes of reaching the Champions League final suffered a blow as Barcelona and Bayern Munich put one foot in the semi-finals with 3-0 first leg wins.
Caroline Weir’s Manchester City have it all to do on the second leg against Barca, while Fiona Brown’s Rosengård fell to Bayern Munich.
However, Erin Cuthbert’s Chelsea beat last season’s runners-up Wolfsburg 2-1 at home, though that tie is far from over.
Holders Lyon defeated French rivals Paris Saint Germain 1-0 through a late spot kick.
Barcelona 3-0 Manchester City
The Catalan giants were playing their “home” leg in Monza, Italy, due to coronavirus restrictions, but that didn’t stop them opening up what looks to be an unassailable first-leg lead.
It was City’s heaviest defeat since 2014. Missing Steph Houghton through injury, they fell behind to Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala’s opener, before Mariona Caldentey doubled the lead with a penalty after substitute Demi Stokes brought down Oshoala after half-time.
City passed up opportunities to get themselves back in the game with Chloe Kelly having a penalty saved and Sam Mewis slicing wide, before Jennifer Hermoso tucked in Barcelona's third.
Chelsea 2-1 Wolfsburg
Both legs are being held in Budapest, but Chelsea manager Emma Hayes believes the advantage lies with Wolfsburg due to their “away” goal, despite her side winning the first leg.
Three of Chelsea's four previous Champions League adventures have been ended by Wolfsburg, but Pernille Harder scored against her old club as Chelsea survived an onslaught.
The German side twice hit the post and Ewa Pajor's overhead kick was cleared off the line.
But Sam Kerr's opener was added to by Harder after a goalkeeper mistake.
Dominique Janssen got an away goal with a penalty.
Bayern Munich 3-0 Rosengard
Bayern scored twice in the opening half an hour through Linda Dallmann and Klara Bühl.
And they made it 24 successive wins in all competitions when Lineth Beerensteyn added a third.
PSG 0-1 Lyon
Lyon broke PSG hearts again with Wendie Renard’s 86th minute penalty giving the holders a crucial first leg advantage.
Visiting goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi had kept PSG at bay with a string of saves, but Renard - who scored the winner as Lyon prevailed against PSG in last season's semi-final - netted from the spot after a handball by 43-year-old Formiga. Although from replays it looked incredibly harsh on the Brazilian.
Wednesday 31 March
Wolfsburg vs Chelsea (played in Budapest)
Manchester City vs Barcelona
Lyon vs Paris Saint-Germain
Thursday 1 April
Rosengård vs Bayern Munich