Used to managing their superiority in the League, Barça had to work hard and apply themselves a lot to overcome a challenging Atlético in a very demanding and open match at the Johan Cruyff. The depth of the rojiblancas, very well positioned on the field, alternated with the determination and finishing of a patched-up bluegrana team in defense and supported in attack by Caroline Graham and Claudia Pina. The uncertainty lasted until the 88th minute, when Brugts’ 4-2 was validated.
The string of absences due to injury and the U-20 World Cup affected the development of a classic match that lacked Jenni Hermoso, who still has not debuted in an Atlético also deprived by suspension of Gio Garbelini. The absences of Irene Paredes and Van Basten, the two starting center-backs, also complicated Pere Romeu’s difficult lineup at Barça.
Although Barça has very well internalized their football idea, they played against the flow from the start, because they lined up with a very experimental lineup and due to Poljak’s goal, who finished very well against Cata Coll a pass from Fiamma. Atlético’s counterattacks made more sense than ever due to Barça’s difficulty in shrinking the field and closing the spaces between the halfway line and Cata Coll. Patri Guijarro’s position, who acted as a center-back, increased Caroline Graham’s prominence. The Norwegian took the ball and kept attacking until she assisted Vicky López in the 1-1. The goal rewarded Barça’s voluntary effort, less fluid and sharp than when competing at full strength, also conditioned by Atlético’s disciplined tactical plan.
Jensen and Lucy’s transitions forced the defenses and Barça’s goalkeeper to stay very focused. Atlético requested a review of the play for a fall by Lucy after covering a lot of ground and cutting inside on Kerolin. The referee, however, did not see a penalty on the monitor and the match went to halftime tied at one because Patri Guijarro also failed to finish a beautiful action saved by Lola Gallardo. The blaugranas needed to better adjust the pressure to subdue Atlético. They also needed Claudia Pina to unbalance the containment system set by David González. The bluegrana attacker is a footballer as undetectable as she is decisive when she enters the game, crucial in the cross that the unmarked Brugts headed to complete the comeback: 2-1.
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The bluegrana lead lasted very little because Jensen, who until yesterday had scored all three of her team’s goals in the League, scored the equalizer when she finished an assist from Lucía, who found Brugts’ back very well. The precise and fast rojiblanca triangulation contrasted with Barça’s possession game. The match maintained a good pace, with an exchange of chances, and was not decided until Pina returned to the scene, whose cross was finished at the far post by Caroline Graham. Atlético, denied by a Martina scissor kick, lacked accuracy and more continuity to equalize again before Gallardo got injured. The back and forth ended with Brugts’ second goal.
The victory was very meritorious for a Barça led by Patri Guijarro who knew how to find solutions to the problems posed by Atlético. The two goals conceded, after two thrashings by 5-0 and 0-4, were considered well conceded after the hard-fought match against a good Atlético. The forwards made up for the defenses at Barça.
| Standings | PT | PJ | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Standings | PT | PJ | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
9 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
