Real Madrid and Barca Women’s have faced off 24 times in total and Los Blancos have only won once. That was away in Catalunya. The last two matches were landslide wins for the leaders of LigaF with 4:0 and 2:6 respectfully.
Barca with the kickoff but the first actions of the game were due to Real Madrid. With ten points between the first two LigaF teams there is a clear favourite to win. The atmosphere in the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium is heated with this classic rivalry (finally) filling up the stands. Women’s football is still growing in Spain in comparison to other European countries like the UK and Germany, so it is good to see passionate fans all around. 3396 people are in attendance tonight.
12 minutes in and referee Olatz Olmedo pulls the yellow card on Lakrar after a nasty foul that could have easily been red. For a second it did look like Olmedo was considering that option. Madrid very lucky to still have all players on the pitch after that incident. Shortly after Linda C. with a great chance for the Homeside. Had she not been left alone by her squad Los Blancos could have had a serious chance at a goal. The return turns into a chance for Barcelona with Misa making a fantastic save to keep it 0:0.
18′ Goal for Barcelona: It was inevitable. The guests were continuing to become stronger. Batlle managing to push the ball behind Misa without the defence being able to stop her.
Rocio clears one the line for Madrid after Misa keeps her goal clean by punching the ball straight back to a Barca player. Fantastic reflexes by the centre back. Madrid’s 5-4-1 is clearly visible in their gameplay and yet Barcelona keep advancing on the goal.
Athinea with the breakaway, passes it to Linda, who gets lost in the Barcelona defence. With 27 minutes of gameplay it seems almost hopeless for the Madrid offence. Great shot by Barcelona that just goes a little wide. The guests have most of the ball possession with 77% after the first half an hour. Of their six shots, 3 have been on goal. They are clearly the stronger side in this match up.
Athinea tries it with a long shot; whilst it goes wide and poses no threat to Coll, it is good to see the Homeside gain some confidence and just go for it at times. She is definitely the driving force behind any and all of Madrid’s advances. One minute is added to the first half.
The second half starts back up the same way as the first. Barcelona with shots towards the Madrid goal and Athinea the only one willing to make the runs for Madrid.
51′ Goal for Barcelona: A beautiful goal for the Catalonian side. Putellas connects beautifully after an assist from Hansen and catches Misa off guard. the keeper is on the wrong foot and can’t make the lunge to save the ball.
55′ Goal for Barcelona: In a whirlwind action Misa can’t quite catch the ball and it lands just inside the post. It was an own-goal by Lakrar. Not what Madrid need on a night where Barcelona is clearly superior. But Los Blancos are not giving up and using the limited chances that they do have. Whatever Pau Quesada said in the halftime has woken them up a little and they are more present in this half, despite the two goals conceded already. Quesada brings on three new players to breathe even more new energy into the Madrid squad. Feller, Weir and Irune are coming on for Linda C., Athinea and Däbritz.
Yellow card for Toletti. Barcelona are now in the perfect free kick position. Misa can catch it easily. Whilst Madrid looks more comfortable now they still can’t really threaten Barca and Coll. Quesada is bringing Iris Ashley on for the last five minutes for Navarro. But even this change can’t save Madrid and lessen the sting of yet another defeat against Barcelona. Three minutes are added to the second half.
The next match between the two Spanish teams is determined for April 2nd, with the second leg of the Champions league taking place in Catalunya. Los Blancos will be looking for redemption from both this match and the last and looking to hurt Barca on home soil.
Final score: 0:3.
