Barcelona thrash Roma to reach Champions League semis

Fridolina Rolfo scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Roma to secure progression to the Women’s Champions League semi-finals.

Goals from Asisat Oshoala and Patricia Guijarro put the Catalan side out of sight before Annamaria Serturini’s low drive gave Roma a consolation goal.

Barca will meet Chelsea or defending champions Lyon in the last four.

Fresh from scoring the only goal in Barcelona’s win over Real Madrid in the league on Saturday, Sweden forward Rolfo latched on to a loose ball which Roma had been unable to properly clear and calmly slotted it into the bottom right corner for the opener.

Then she tapped in from Caroline Graham Hansen’s low driving cross after Lioness Keira Walsh had set up Leon’s rocket from 25-yards out to put the home side in control.

Oshoala nudged home Barca’s fourth just one minute into the second half, tapping in from Aitana Bonmati’s cross, before Guijarro’s header from a corner sealed their spot in the semi-final.

Buoyed by a passionate crowd in Spain, Barcelona oozed class with Walsh dominating play in the middle of the park and fellow Lioness Lucy Bronze thwarting Roma’s attempts to score on the counter.

Having conceded just one goal in their first-leg loss in Italy, Champions League debutants Roma struggled to create meaningful opportunities in Spain and were unable to deal with Barcelona’s aggressive style.

Serturini’s powerful shot was one of their only highlights, while a sublime save from goalkeeper Camelia Ceasar denied Geyse Ferreira a sixth goal in the final few minutes.

Barcelona have reached the Champions League semi-final stage for five consecutive seasons, going on to reach the final three times and winning the tournament once.

Emma Hayes’ Chelsea lead eight-time champions Lyon, who beat Barcelona in last season’s final, 1-0 on aggregate and could book their place in the semi-final on Thursday at Stamford Bridge.