El Clásico set to break records this evening

Barcelona take on Real Madrid in a Champions League El Clásico tonight in what is a potentially record-breaking fixture for the women’s game.

At least 85,000 fans are expected in the Camp Nou to watch the game, with Barcelona leading 3-1 after the first leg in Madrid thanks to goals from Clàudia Pina and Alexia Putellas – the world’s best player scoring two on the night. However, Olga Carmona’s early goal meant that there’s still hope for Real Madrid, although it would be a huge upset if they were to progress to the semi-final at Barça’s expense. 

The current record for a women’s football game is the final of the 1999 FIFA World Cup between the USA and China, which was played at the iconic Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. 90,185 fans attended the game that the USA won on penalties that day. 

©At. Madrid Femenino

Almost one hundred years before that game the record was set in England. On Boxing Day in 1920 when Dick, Kerr Ladies FC of Preston played St. Helen's Ladies in front of 53,000 fans at Goodison Park. 

Unfortunately, the WSL is still some distance away from recreating that kind of attendance. Currently, the record for a WSL game stands at 31,213 when Manchester City hosted Manchester United. And just last weekend it was United who set the attendance record for the 2021/22 campaign when they defeated Everton in front of 20,241 at Old Trafford. 

Should the women’s game continue to grow exponentially, then these records will continue to be broken. Although at the moment, these kinds of games are outliers. For example, Manchester United ordinarily play at Leigh Sports Village about 12 miles away from Old Trafford with far more modest crowds. 

However, the hope is that these games – like tonight’s El Clásico – will help generate an even greater interest in the women’s game and the larger crowds will soon follow.

⚪️⚽️ @7olgacarmona with the opening goal against Barcelona in the first leg 👌

Will Real Madrid find the back of the net at Camp Nou tonight? 🔮#UWCL | @realmadridfem pic.twitter.com/TExgwlbxV3

— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) March 30, 2022