Linda Caicedo shines for Real Madrid in the Champions League

Young Colombian star Linda Caicedo’s dribbling spoiled Twente’s defense on Wednesday as Real Madrid all but reached the quarter-finals of the Women’s Champions League.

Caicedo, a revelation for the 2023 World Cup, scored in first-half stoppage time and set up Sin Bruun’s 71st-minute conversion to give Madrid a turnaround and seal a 3-2 win over Twente. A week ago, the Spanish club defeated the Dutch team at home with a score of 7:0.

Madrid are six points clear of Twente after four days in Group B. This will be the second time in their history that a Merengue team has reached the quarter-finals of a continental tournament.

Chelsea, the key leaders, could have ensured their presence later by simply drawing with Celtic’s inferior sides.

While Caicedo shone in Holland, German star Alexandra Popp scored a hat-trick and provided two assists in Wolfsburg’s 5-0 win over Galatasaray.

Wolfsburg, who won 5-0 in Istanbul last week, shared six points with Roma, second in Group A, who later visited leaders Lyon, the team that holds the record of eight goals in the competition’s history.

Twente took the lead in the 29th minute when Jamie Ravensbergen converted a free kick which was sent into the area by Alike Tuin.

Caicedo turned the game around just before the break, finishing off an attack she had started by bursting into the penalty area. His first shot was saved, and he was not forgiving when he found the ball delivered at his feet a second time.

Another Caicedo raid in the 71st gave Danish forward Bruun the opportunity to score.

Alba Redondo scored Madrid’s third goal in added time, but Twente reduced the deficit in the heat of the match with Sophie Te Brake’s 20-metre strike.

Wolfsburg won thanks to solvency. Popp scored in the 3rd, 15th and 88th minutes with a low shot and two headers. She also assisted Janina Minga’s goal with a shot from the edge of the penalty area in the 31st minute and Lena Lattvein’s header in stoppage time.

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This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative artificial intelligence tool.