Barça 5-0 Madrid: Comfortable win in El Clásico
A sunny day and an electric atmosphere at a resplendent Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys provided the perfect stage for this latest edition of the women's Clàsico. The 38717 in attendance were treated to some wonderful goals and play as the match didn't disappoint, FC Barcelona running out 5-0 winners against Real Madrid, after goals by Aitana, Graham Hansen, Mariona, Pina, and Vicky.
Marta Torrejón was joined by FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta and the Director responsible for women’s football, Xavier Puig, on the pitch pre-match as she was presented with a jersey to celebrate playing 400 games for FC Barcelona. A usual strong line up named by coach Jonatan Giráldez saw Salma Paralluelo start in the most advanced position, as Alexia was rested given a recent niggle, and Engen continued at centre back, as Irene Paredes was absent due to illness.
Real Madrid start well but Barça lead by three at the break
FC Barcelona began by pressing high up the pitch, but Real Madrid came out strongly, forcing the first corner after four minutes. As the game began to settle down and Barca started to control possession, Graham Hansen and Aitana showed glimpses of their quality much to the home crowd's delight. A sign of things to come.
A great move from the right flank to the centre saw Ballon d'Or winner Aitana slide in the first into the left side of the goal on 16 minutes, despite Real Madrid keeper Misa getting a touch. Graham Hansen with the assist. Just seven minutes later, a wonderful ball in from Batlle on the left saw Aitana run across her marker and slam a left footed shot against Misa's right post.
Salma Paralluelo's pace was causing a lot of problems and she flashed a shot wide of the goal after 28 minutes. Graham Hansen, who was wowing the crowd with some classic wing play, then stood up a cross to the far post after 35 minutes, but the resulting shot was saved. Always a threat, she twisted and turned once again, this time in the box, her shot hitting the top left hand side of the bar just three minutes later.
Graham Hansen then blazed over from the rebound after a Salma Paralluelo run and shot was saved by Misa after 41 minutes. However, they paired up again to score the second goal, Salma Paralluelo cutting back onto her left to fire in a shot from distance that slammed off the cross bar before Graham Hansen showed composure to put in the rebound this time for 2-0 after 43 minutes.
There was still time for another goal before half-time as a Mapi Leon corner was hooked back into box, falling to Mariona who took a touch and curled the ball into the goal from the left side of area despite Misa getting a touch.
Late goals round off a great result for Barça
Despite Misa having to make a great save with her feet when Salma Paralluelo ran through again on 46 minutes, Real Madrid had made three half-time changes and the game became more even for the first 15 minutes of the second half.
However, Aitana was on top form and seemed to sense more goals could be scored. A tremendous run on 60 minutes took her in front of goal but she opted to pass inside and the pass was blocked, before she again ran through 12 minutes later after a slide rule pass by Mariona, forcing Misa into a save, with substitute Marta Torrejón having a header cleared from in front of goal from the resulting corner.
The fans were really enjoying the occasion with a Mexican wave going round the stadium and shouts of "ole" with the blaugrana passes. There was another roar as substitutes Brugts and Vicky showed their talent to almost combine to score the fourth just before the 90 minutes was up.
The goal was coming, though, and who else but Aitana ran through the Real Madrid defence once again to pull it back from the right byeline for substitute Pina to score with a cute finish after 92 minutes. Unbelievably there was still time for Vicky to score a fifth, lifting the ball over Misa's left shoulder after smart movement to get onto Brugt's through ball to make it 5-0 before the final whistle, also making her the Club's youngest ever El Clásico goalscorer.
GAME STATS
Barça: 5
Madrid: 0
Barça: Cata Coll, Bronze, Engen, Mapi León, Ona Batlle (Corrales 86'); Walsh, Patri (Torrejón 70'), Aitana; Graham Hansen (Vicky 86'), Paralluelo (Brugts 70'), Mariona (Pina 77').
Madrid: Misa; Oihane, Ivana, Kathellen, Carmona; Abelleira (Zornoza 46'), Raso (Feller 46'), Toletti; Athenea (Svava 67'), Bruun (Oroz 46'), Caicedo.
Goals: 1-0, Aitana (min. 17); 2-0, Graham Hansen (min. 43); 3-0, Mariona (min. 46); 4-0, Pina (min. 91); 5-0, Vicky (min. 93)
Referee: Eugenia Gil Soriano. Yellow card for Marta Torrejón (78')