Barcelona 5-2 Real Madrid
by Asif Burhan
at Camp Nou

ON AN unforgettable evening at Camp Nou, women’s football took a seismic leap forward, as the biggest crowd to watch any football match this season saw a seven-goal thriller which should not be overlooked when all the records and statistics are digested over the years.

As the official attendance of 91,553 was announced towards the end of the game, a crescendo of noise rang around the famous old cauldron. It was a world record for a professional women’s football match which is unlikely to be surpassed any time soon. With the men’s team playing at home on the weekend of the women’s team’s semi-final first leg, it is unlikely they will be able to also stage that game at Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe. This summer, redevelopment work will commence on the stadium which will reduce its capacity until its completion in 2024.

A world record seemed improbable at the start of the game as the players lined up at a half-full stadium. However, as the teams traded goals and ticket holders continued to enter as they finished their working day, so the crowd swelled to the point where the 23-year-old world record of 90,185 set at the 1999 Women’s World Cup final seemed under threat.