On March 30, Barcelona Femeni enjoyed an incredible night by beating Real Madrid and breaking the world record for attendance at a women’s game.
Recently, the gender barrier in sport has been blown out of the park, with equality coming to the forefront. Gone are the days of tiny crowds and no television coverage; women’s football has become a major attraction. And Barca have become key players in the growth of the female game in Spain and beyond.
They’ve worked tirelessly to promote the athletes, and the numbers have shown their hard work has paid off. After setting the previous record of 60,739, they outdid themselves and blew it well and truly out of the water.
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Barcelona Femeni smash the world record
The monstrous El Classico clash saw a whopping 91,553 fans squeeze into the Nou Camp to cheer on their beloved team. In January 2021, during the pandemic, the women played in front of an empty stadium. But upon their return, they shattered all expectations to create a sensational atmosphere.
The raucous crowd held placards reading, in English, “More Than Empowerment”, which delivered a powerful message on gender equality. The Spaniards felt that using this method was the best way to get the cause noticed by a wider audience. The iconic yellow and red Barca colours made for a beautiful backdrop.
Barcelona vs Real Madrid
Luckily the match more than delivered, with every last Catalans fan going home happy. The Champions League quarter-final lived up to the hype and provided a thrilling game, which had supporters of both sides on the edge of their seats.
Barcelona certainly had the momentum after carrying a 3-1 lead into the second leg of the El Classico tie. And they capitalised on that early as María Pilar León produced a beautiful finish within ten minutes. But just five minutes later, Madrid gave themselves a glimmer of hope in the form of an Olga Carmona spot-kick.
This goal gave the underdog’s a massive boost in confidence, and they more than took advantage. In the second half’s early stages, Claudia Zornoza produced an absolute beauty of a lob from over 40 yards out. But Barca quickly put them back in their place. Aitana Bonmati and Claudia Pina scored to put the game to bed.
To rub salt into the wounds, Ballon d’Or holder, Alexia Putellas, hit one past a helpless Mina Rodriguez. And to end Madrid’s misery, Caroline Graham Hansen put the final nail in the coffin.
The former Champions League winners ultimately brushed their rivals aside 5-2 with an 8-3 aggregate. They now move on in pursuit of reclaiming the European trophy, and with their ferocious supporters by their side, who could write them off?
Featured Image Credit: Getty