Barcelona takes on Spanish rival Real Madrid in Women's Champions League quarterfinals

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid will try to close in on a first semifinal appearance in the Women’s Champions League when it hosts three-time champion Barcelona in the first leg of the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Manchester United will make its debut in the last eight against Bayern Munich.

Barcelona will try to make it to a record-extending eighth consecutive semifinal appearance, and a sixth straight final in the competition that it has dominated in recent years.

The Catalan club is playing in its 11th straight quarterfinal and seeks to reclaim the title it lost to Arsenal last season. Barcelona topped the league phase with an unbeaten campaign that included 20 goals scored and three against.

Madrid, in its second consecutive quarterfinal, was eliminated by Arsenal in the last eight last season. If finished seventh in the league phase.

Man United has been thriving in its first European experience since a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in qualifying in the 2023-24 season. Bayern recovered from a 7-1 loss at Barcelona at the start of the league phase to finish fourth and qualify for the quarterfinals for the eighth time in 10 seasons.

On Tuesday, Arsenal defeated English rival Chelsea 3-1 in their first leg of the quarterfinals. Wolfsburg took a 1-0 lead over record eight-time champion Lyon in a meeting of two of the competition’s most storied names.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Wolfburg's Lineth Beerensteyn, right, dribbles past Lyon's Damaris Egurrola during their Champions League quarter-finals, first leg soccer match in Wolfsburg, Germany, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Swen Pfortner/dpa via AP)

Wolfburg's Lineth Beerensteyn, left, celebrates after scoring with teammate Camilla Kuever during their Champions League quarter-finals, first leg soccer match in Wolfsburg, Germany, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (Swen Pfortner/dpa via AP)

Arsenal's Stina Blackstenius, left, celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Women's Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Chelsea in London, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)

HAFJELL, Norway (AP) — Slalom standings leader Atle Lie McGrath stood only sixth after the first run of the final World Cup skiing race of the season Wednesday.

Olympic champion Loic Meillard led Henrik Kristoffersen by 0.67 seconds and Timon Haugan by 0.79.

Clement Noel was 1.03 behind in fourth, Olympic giant slalom champion Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil was 1.15 behind in fifth and McGrath was next, 1.65 back.

McGrath entered the race with an advantage of 41 points over childhood friend Pinheiro Braathen, with Noel (77 points back) and Kristoffersen (99 points back) also still in the running for the title.

Wins are worth 100 points, second place earns 80 points and third 60 points.

McGrath, who was born in Vermont but grew up in Norway, entered the final run of the final men’s race at the Milan Cortina Games with a big lead in his best event. But after straddling a gate, McGrath lost control of his emotions, threw his ski poles away and ventured toward the woods to gather himself.

Marco Odermatt, who does not compete in slalom, secured his fifth straight overall title before the finals. He was due to be awarded the large crystal globe trophy later.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen competes in an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the Lillehammer World Cup Finals, in Hafjell, Norway, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen competes in an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the Lillehammer World Cup Finals, in Hafjell, Norway, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath competes in an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the Lillehammer World Cup Finals, in Hafjell, Norway, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Switzerland's Loic Meillard competes in an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the Lillehammer World Cup Finals, in Hafjell, Norway, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath competes in an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the Lillehammer World Cup Finals, in Hafjell, Norway, Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)