UWCL roundup: Champions Barcelona and PSG take slender leads back home in quarter-finals first leg
Salma Paralluelo's sixth goal of the season in the UEFA Women's Champions League helped the reigning champions edge out a brave Brann outfit in the first leg of their quarter-final in Norway, while Tabitha Chawinga's fourth goal of the campaign and a strike from competition debutant Eva Gaetino gave Paris victory in the first leg of their quarter-final in Gothenburg.
Brann 1-2 Barcelona
Caroline Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo scored to help Barcelona avoid a shock defeat away to the competition's surprise package Brann.
The reigning champions, who are in the competition's last eight for the ninth consecutive season, piled on the pressure right away, with Mariona Caldentey forcing an early save from Aurora Mikalsen.
The visitors took the lead following the resulting corner. Caroline Graham Hansen, a Norwegian international, played a couple of one-twos to get the ball into the area before her deflected effort went past the unfortunate Mikalsen.
But debutant quarter-finalists Brann, who recovered from a two-goal deficit to hold eight-time champions Lyon at home in the group stage, fought back, with Justine Kielland testing Catalina Coll and Signe Gaupset almost pulling off an audacious long-range shot.
However, Barcelona began to regain control of the game and appeared to be the most likely to add to their lead. Several players, including Lucy Bronze, Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo, Aitana Bonmatí, and Mariona Caldentey, were denied by the Brann goalkeeper during a seven-minute period near half-time.
However, the hosts scored the match's second goal against the run of play. Teenager Gaupset's surging run down the left flank allowed her to pick out Kielland just inside the area, and the 21-year-old's low cross set up the skipper, Cecilie Kvamme to score from a difficult angle.
Just before halftime, the Blaugrana almost regained the lead, but Irene Paredes' powerful volley from a searching free-kick cannoned off the crossbar.
Barça were unable to maintain their intensity in front of goal after the break, with Graham Hansen's low strike flashing across the face of goal 20 minutes after the restart.
However, as has been the case throughout the competition this season, Jonatan Giráldez's side broke through thanks to a piece of magic from Salma Paralluelo. After collecting Aitana Bonmatí's cut-back, the 20-year-old made a clever turn in the box and shot low inside the upright, restoring the team's lead.
Aitana Bonmatí nearly scored a spectacular third goal in added time, but her curling strike was tipped onto the frame of the goal by the impressive Mikalsen, whose performance may prove crucial in the return leg.
Häcken 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain
Tabitha Chawinga, Paris Saint-Germain's top scorer, scored in the second half after Häcken pulled things level in a thrilling quarter-final first leg in Gothenburg.
Paris won 4-1 on aggregate when these teams met in qualifying last season, and the Group C winners forced a series of corners early in Gothenburg, capitalizing on a cross for their opening goal.
Chawinga met a free-kick from lively left-back Sakina Karchaoui with a firm header at the far post which goalkeeper Jennifer Falk, who had already produced a splendid save to tip Karchaoui's dipping volley around a post, could only push into the path of Eva Gaetino. The 21-year-old did the rest, scoring in her Women's Champions League debut.
Encouraged by their ardent supporters, Häcken responded by posing a growing threat. Another rising star, 20-year-old Rosa Kafaji, drew them level as halftime approached, nodding in a rebound after Katarzyna Kiedrzynek saved the striker's penalty.
The visitors demonstrated their depth by replacing the injured Jackie Groenen with Lieke Martens shortly after conceding the equaliser, and they continued to dominate possession while facing fewer counterattacking threats for much of the second half.
Fellow substitute Amalie Vangsgaard, who was prolific in Sweden for Linköping before joining Les Parisiennes, found Chawinga in space in front of goal with a right-wing cross, allowing the loanee to score her 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
Kafaji was clearly in the mood to score again, and she would have had a second if Kiedrzynek hadn't saved her fierce shot six minutes from time. Paris held on, taking a slender lead in an engrossing tie.
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