Madrid, 26 March (H.S.): Barcelona's women's football team crushed arch-rivals Real Madrid 6-2 in the UEFA Women's Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Thursday taking a giant stride toward the semifinals. Played as the famed El Clasico this clash saw Barcelona assert total control from the opening whistle.

In the Madrid showdown Ewa Pajor bagged a brace while Esmee Brugts Irene Paredes Vicky Lopez and Alexia Putellas each chipped in with a goal to power the win. Real Madrid's Linda Caicedo netted both for her side but couldn't stem the tide.

Barcelona came out firing aggressively leading 2-0 at halftime. Caicedo pulled one back in the 30th minute hinting at a Real revival but the visitors hit back hard stretching the score to 5-1 and owning the game completely.

Caicedo added another in the second half trimming the margin briefly yet Putellas sealed it with an 89th-minute penalty making the final tally 6-2.

The three-time champions stand poised for an eighth straight semifinal having hit the final in each of the last five seasons despite last year's championship loss. Real now face a Herculean task overturning the four-goal deficit in next week's Barcelona return leg which looks anything but easy.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar