SOCCER: Barcelona brush aside Real Madrid to make Women's Champions League semis

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – Barcelona cruised into the semifinals of the Women’s Champions League with a dominant 6-0 win over Real Madrid on Thursday, completing a staggering 12-2 aggregate victory over their Spanish rivals. The result sets up a last-four clash with German powerhouse Bayern Munich.

Barcelona wasted no time asserting control in the second leg. Alexia Putellas opened the scoring in the eighth minute, followed by Caroline Graham Hansen seven minutes later. Irene Paredes and Ewa Pajor added goals before halftime, and Hansen struck again 10 minutes into the second half. Esmee Brugts rounded off the rout in the 74th minute, leaving Madrid with no chance of a comeback.

Joining Barcelona in the semifinals is OL Lyon (formerly Olympique Lyonnais), who overcame VfL Wolfsburg 4-1 on aggregate after extra time. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Lyon equalized early through a deflected Lily Yohannes strike. Despite several chances, neither side could find the winning goal in regulation.

Extra time proved decisive for the eight-time champions. Melchie Dumornay put Lyon ahead, followed by a powerful header from Damaris Egurrola. Tabitha Chawinga sealed the 4-1 aggregate win in the 119th minute, setting up a semifinal meeting with reigning champions Arsenal, who defeated them at the same stage last year.

In the inaugural final of the Women’s Europa Cup, it will be an all-Swedish affair. BK Häcken defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1 on aggregate to face Stockholm’s Hammarby, who overcame Slavia Prague 5-2 overall with a 2-0 win on the night.

-Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters