Alfredo Di Stéfano witnessed the display of a magical duo for the culés –Aitana Bonmatí and Caroline Graham Hansen–, the birth of a new pair of full-backs –Ona Batlle and Fridolina Rolfö– and the collapse of his own team at home. Barcelona once again won against Real Madrid in a masterclass from Graham (0-3). Alberto Toril’s team has never beaten Jonatan Giráldez’s team in the 14 matches they have had, and this season, the Barça goal has not conceded a goal from the Madrid team. A match that will be the last classic for Giráldez at the head of the team, and also for the veteran Sandra Paños, who watched the game from the bench. A match, also, that supports the League in favor of Barcelona: 12 points separate their leadership from second position, that of the Madrid team.
0
Misa, Olga Carmona, Rocío Gálvez, Ivana Andrés, Kenti Robles, Linda Caicedo, Teresa Abelleira, Claudia Zornoza, Athenea del Castillo, Sandie Toletti and Signe Bruun
3
Cata Coll, Ona Batlle, Ingrid Engen, Fridolina Rolfö, Irene Paredes, Patri Guijarro, Keira Walsh, Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen, Salma Paralluelo and Clàudia Pina
Goals 0-1 min. 10: Fridolina Rolfö. 0-2 min. 54: Aitana Bonmatí. 0-3 min. 67: Caroline Graham Hansen.
Referee Olatz Rivera Olmedo
Yellow cards Athenea del Castillo (min. 19) and Esmee Brugts (min. 77)
Despite the fact that Real Madrid came to this new classic on a good streak – four wins and a draw – and Barcelona in the middle of a tight schedule – between two Champions League quarter-final games – their strength did not falter in the Giráldez team, and they did do it in the Toril team. Last year, at this point in the season, the white club was five points behind the leader, the Barça team. More was expected from the Madrid team this year, in which they ended up eliminated in the Copa de la Reina, in the group stage of the Champions League and were on the verge of reaching the final of the Super Cup. In the League, they have become survivors in the slipstream of Barcelona.
The stadium – packed with 4,947 spectators – vibrated loudly with the atmosphere of the classic, and the duel of songs – the culé fans did not forgive and moved to Valdebebas – was established in the stands. It was the first time that Fridolina Rolfö and Ona Batlle coincided as starters. A blessed coincidence for the culés, a plan hatched by Jonatan Giráldez that worked perfectly. The Vilassar de Mar player until now occupied the left wing, owned by the Swede until her injury. Now, with the return of Rolfö, the Catalan soccer player tried the right side, a priori her dominant side. And she showed it very soon: Ona crossed from the right and her reinstated teammate, without marking, finished to score her second goal this season since her return.
Real Madrid fell back on their defensive errors, and Misa Rodríguez, from the goal, asked her teammates for more. Their constant orders and instructions echoed to Kenti Robles, Rocío Gálvez and Ivana Andrés, the Canarian desperate in the face of defenselessness between the four sticks and Barcelona’s attacks from behind. The Blaugranas dominated the ball – already part of their routine in League F – and with the defense of Irene Paredes and the successful conversion of Ingrid Engen into centre-back, the culé defense managed to ensure that Madrid went to half-time without any shot and without give Linda Caicedo, the ‘Golden Girl’, a chance.
The one who did not fail was Barcelona’s magic duo: Graham Hansen once again placed a cross for Aitana Bonmatí’s shot, which settled the match even more in favor of the Blaugranas. But a surprise was in store. The Norwegian scored the third, and increased her personal numbers. In addition to being the top scorer in the domestic competition – 17 goals – she is also the one with the most assists – 16 assists on goals. And the person who has scored the most against Real Madrid in their history is Alexia Putellas, who came on, amidst cheers, twenty minutes from the end for Aitana. The Barça captain missed the last five games against Madrid, and in the sixth she started from the bench.
The Barcelona players were the shadow of their rivals. With the victory, there are now 12 points that separate Barcelona from Real Madrid, sitting in second place. An abysmal void, but a mathematically possible difference. Although complicated. It would be the fifth consecutive league won for the Blaugranas, who are still alive in the Champions League and are in the final of the Queen’s Cup after winning the Super Cup. The League, just a breath away. And their greatest rivals, erased in terms of points.
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