A vital – and already classic – duel at the top of the table. A fight for leadership. A Barcelona scorer against the team that fits the least, the . And a winner: the Barça team, which, faced with the challenge and a start to the season with diffuse sensations in terms of the game, not so much in terms of the result, offered its most recognizable face. The team led by Pere Romeu comfortably overwhelmed a neutralized Atlético that took refuge in its own field, although protected by a great version of Lola Gallardo. Thus, the outcome prolongs the throne of the League for the Blaugrana, in addition to Aitana’s 100th celebration as a culé goal scorer.
0
Lola Gallardo, Xènia Pérez, Ainhoa Moraza, Silvia Lloris (Merle Barth, 72 min), Lauren Leal, Andrea Medina, Luany (Synne Jensen, 61 min), Gabriela García, Vilde Bøe Risa, Fiamma Benitez (Sheila Guijarro, min 61) and Rasheedat Ajibade (Rosa Otermín, min. 81)
3
Cata Coll, Ona Batlle, Mapi León, Irene Paredes, Esmee Brugts (Jana Fernández, min. 88), Alexia Putellas, Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Hansen (Vicky López, min. 77), Ewa Pajor (Kika Nazareth, min 78) y Clàudia Pina (Keira Walsh, min. 61)
Goals
0-1 min. 7: Aitana Bonmatí. 0-2 min. 45: Caroline Hansen. 0-3 min. 50: Patri Guijarro
It was a significant victory for Barcelona, which faces a condensed week. First, Atlético; then, the third match of the Champions group stage against St. Pölten; and to top it all off, the visit to the capital to face Real Madrid, now second in the League after coming back from Levante Badalona. So it was a double slap for Atlético, who not only lost the stake in an Alcalá de Henares Sports Center with sold out, but also fell from the second step.
The Atlético defense had a complicated mission against a Barça that sees the goal as very big, also entrusted to Lola Gallardo, goalkeeper in her best moment, as she came into the match with only two goals conceded in the League. And he did his best to continue sweetly, popcorn and saves everywhere, iron gloves against the successive shots that came from the other side of the net. But his plans were soon thwarted. Graham Hansen raised his head after a long pass from Patri Guijarro and saw his inseparable dance partner, , who finished to open the can.
Barcelona, diligently, contained the long balls and quick transitions of Atlético – who were looking for the speed of Ajibade, who had been sore since the start of the match, and of Luany – thanks to the anticipation of Irene Paredes, who prevented her rivals from receiving their backs. A blow for Atlético, who no longer found solutions in attack and found problems from the root, as they found it difficult to overcome the rival pressure, stuck and subdued in their field without knowing the opponent’s goal. The ball, then, belonged to Barça, who delved again and again into their attacks.
But the tangle of legs in the rival area was a headache that was difficult to overcome. Claudia Pina, owner of the left side along with Esmee Brugts, since Alexia fell further to the right, armed her leg on several occasions. Without success. Until Graham, unstoppable during the match, shot from a distance and the ball hit the back of Andrea Medina, who changed the direction of the trajectory to surprise Gallardo and score the second before the break. The third Barça goal – Patri’s header after a corner in which he got rid of Ajibade’s marking – woke up Atlético with counterattacks frustrated by the Barça’s rapid retreats, to the point that Cata Coll barely intervened in the clash.
The victory pivoted on the emotional and football leadership of while prolonging the Barça’s state of grace, undefeated for another day. And, to his joy, already with a good game.
