Barça Women 4-0 Real Madrid Femenino: Another final awaits!

Barça Women are through to another cup final, this time in the Copa de la Reina. They will face Sporting Club de Huelva at 11.30am CEST on Sunday May 29 after beating Real Madrid 4-0 in the semi-final. Goals by Martens, Aitana, Mariona, and Oshoala sealed a comfortable win.

With Hermoso and Graham Hansen both missing out through injury, Jonatan Giráldez made changes from the UWCL final in Turin, giving Oshoala and Martens a chance to show their attacking prowess.

Clear intentions

Barça were on the attack as soon as the whistle was blown for kick-off in the Santo Domingo stadium, forcing a succession of corners early on. Clearly the aim was to control the game and lay any ghosts from the UWCL final to rest.

The first good chance came after a lengthy spell of possession on 12 minutes, Mariona crossing from the right and Alexia glancing a header onto Misa's left post. Alexia then turned provider two minutes later, whipping in a cross from the left that Oshoala headed against the same upright.

The first goal soon followed, Alexia again involved, getting to the right byeline, cutting the ball back for Martens to guide it inside the left post (1-0, 19th minute). Real Madrid realised they had to come out and pressure to have any chance of getting back into the game, but Barça continued to remain in control, including almost grabbing another through Aitana after a mazy run and left foot curler saved by Misa. 1-0 the half-time score.

Three second half goals

Despite Real Madrid coming out after the break with real intention, it didn't take long for Barça to seal their passage to Sunday's final. On the 47th minute, Martens threaded a ball through to Oshoala on the left, whose shot was blocked, but she passed the ball to Aitana, who showed quick feet to score to make it 2-0 from inside the area. Just six minutes later, Martens took a corner from the left and Mariona was unmarked in the penalty box to head home (3-0, 53rd minute).

Coach Jonatan Giráldez made a triple sub on 60 minutes, including captain Alexia, perhaps already with an eye on the grand final. Rolfö was pushed up into attack and she was involved in one of the best moves of the game. Oshoala was just over the halfway line and passed the ball to Rolfö as Real Madrid retreated. Her lovely slide rule pass found Oshoala who had continued her run, only to be denied by the onrushing Misa. She would get her goal, however, substitute Pina threading a ball from left to right, which Oshoala took round the keeper to make it 4-0 after 75 minutes.

All in all a great Clásico win to blow away any lingering thoughts of last weekend's disappointment and qualify for this season's Copa de la Reina final, with the holders facing Sporting Club de Huelva at 11.30am CEST on Sunday May 29.

GAME STATS

Barça Women, 4
Real Madrid Femenino, 0

Barça Women: Sandra Paños, Marta, Irene Paredes (Pereira, min. 74), Mapi León, Rolfö, Engen, Aitana, Alexia (Claudia Pina, min. 60), Martens (Crnogorcevic, min. 60), Mariona (Leila, min. 60) and Oshoala (Ona, min. 78)
Real Madrid Femenino: Misa, Lucía, Peter, Rocío, Svava (Robles, min. 78), Teresa (Kaci, min. 68), Zornoza, Athenea, Maite Oroz (Partido, min. 78), Olga (Moller, min. 68) and Esther (Nahikari, min. 46)

Gols: 1-0, Martens (min. 19); 2-0, Aitana (min. 47); 3-0, Mariona (min. 52); 4-0, Oshoala (min. 75)

Referee: Huerta de Aza.