Real Madrid vs Barcelona Women's Champions League preview: Where to watch, possible starting line-ups

Real Madrid and Barcelona meet in their UEFA Women's Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday 25 March at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano.

What you need to know

This is not the first time this rivalry will be played out in the Women's Champions League, with then debutants Madrid having fallen at this very stage to Barcelona in 2021/22. Barça prevailed 8-3 on aggregate, winning the second leg 5-2 in front of a then world-record crowd at the Camp Nou (which will stage the return again this time).

Although Madrid finally recorded a victory against Barcelona last March, this season the Blaugrana have dominated the fixture, winning 4-0 in Liga F last November, 2-0 in the Supercopa final in January and 4-0 away in the Copa de la Reina quarter-finals in February. They will meet again in the league between these two European fixtures.

Madrid ousted Eintracht Frankfurt in qualifying and finished seventh in the league phase before a knockout phase play-off defeat of Paris FC took them into their second consecutive quarter-final. Last season, they won the first leg 2-0 against Arsenal, only to have that advantage overturned in London, meaning they have yet to reach the semis.

In contrast, Barcelona progressed to the last four for a record seventh time in a row last season and are in their 11th straight quarter-final as they seek to reclaim the title they lost to the Gunners last term. Topping the league phase unbeaten with 20 goals scored and just three conceded underlined that ambition.

Possible line-ups

Real Madrid: Misa Rodríguez; Eva Navarro, María Méndez, Lakrar, Yasmim; Däbritz, Angeldahl, Weir; Athenea, Linda Caicedo, Feller
Out: Bruun (head)
Doubtful: None

Barcelona: Cata Coll; Ona Batlle, Irene Paredes, Camara, Brugts; Vicky López, Patri Guijarro, Alexia Putellas; Graham Hansen, Pajor, Clàudia Pina
Out: Laia Aleixandri (knee), Aitana Bonmatí (fibula)
Doubtful: Mapi León (ankle)

Form guide

Real Madrid
Last six games: WWWWWW
Last match: Eibar 0-1 Real Madrid, 22/03, Liga F

Where they stand: 2nd in Liga F

Barcelona
Last six games: WWWDWW
Last match: Barcelona 7-1 Athletic Club, 21/03, Liga F

Where they stand: 1st in Liga F, Copa de la Reina final

Views from the camps

Pau Quesada, Real Madrid coach: "We need to demand a bit more of ourselves. In attack, we have to keep taking steps forward and control the game more; be more effective in the final third, and more clinical. We're very well prepared for this tie. This team is good enough to be in the last eight, and why not the last four?"

María Méndez, Real Madrid defender: "We have faced [Barcelona] quite a few times. We have learned from both the positives and the negatives. It's a new match. I can see that the team is focused. We know we have to be near perfect for the full 180 minutes. It's difficult, but that's what we are aiming for."

Pere Romeu, Barcelona coach: "This is the Champions League. The more perfect you are, the closer you are to winning, but even winning on Wednesday doesn't guarantee qualification. We respect Real Madrid and this competition that motivates and excites us so much, but we're going to do our best to get to the second leg with a favourable score, knowing that it's a 180-minute tie and that it probably won't be decided on Wednesday."

Vicky López, Barcelona winger: "I think Madrid improve every year, but so do we. It's the team's ambition to keep improving and keep winning games. Playing in Madrid is very special because my family can come and see me, and it's my dream come true that they can accompany me. We have to play a great game and make sure our fans enjoy it."

Where is the 2026 UEFA Women's Champions League final being played?

UEFA via Getty Images

Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway, will host the 2026 UEFA Women's Champions League final on Saturday 23 May.

The final will be the first UEFA women's club decider to be played in Norway, although Ullevaal – opened in 1926 and renovated on several occasions since – staged the UEFA Women's EURO final in both 1987 and 1997. It is the regular home of the Norway women's and men's national teams. The 2016 men's UEFA Super Cup was also held in Norway, in Trondheim.