Barcelona Femeni unleashed their fangs against Sporting Huelva in their 15th Liga F clash of the season. The Catalan giants returned to winning ways following their 4-4 draw against Benfica in the Champions League.
First Half
Fielding a heavily rotated squad, Barca took the lead in the 19th minute when Claudia Pina scored a beautiful free kick goal. Martina Fernandez was fouled close to the edge of the box and in the absence of the team’s set piece takers, Pina stepped up to take responsibility and opened the scoring for Barcelona.
Claudia Pina got her name on the scoresheet again when she doubled Barcelona’s lead in the 26th minute. Aitana Bonmati’s header in the penalty area struck the arm of a Sporting defender and Pina once again stepped up to convert from the spot.
Barca kept pressing the opposition defense for more goals and came close to getting a third goal in the 28th minute when Marta’s attempt at converting from close range sailed over the crossbar. In the 34th minute, Bruna Vilamala’s goal-bound shot from distance was saved by the goalkeeper, who also pulled a magnificent save to stop Esmee Brugts header in the 40th minute.
Both teams headed into halftime with Barcelona two goals up and safely dominating the game.
Second Half
Barca started the second half strongly, picking up where they left off in the first half. Playing the majority of the game in the opposition’s half, Barcelona kept applying pressure on the Huelva defense in search of a third goal.
Bruna Vilamala came close to adding to Barca’s goals in the 62nd minute but sent her effort harmlessly over the crossbar. In the 70th minute, substitute Guilia Dragoni hit the underside of the crossbar with a wicked shot after being teed up by Aitana Bonmati.
However, Barcelona were rewarded for their efforts in the 77th minute when Caroline Graham Hansen added to her tally this season with a brilliant finish. The Norwegian forward latched onto an over the top through ball from Mariona Caldentey and calmly sidestepped her marker before putting the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
Keira Walsh sent a fierce shot on goal in the 85th minute but was denied by a great save from the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper proved important for Huelva again a minute later when she saved Mariona Caldentey’s shot from the edge of the box.
Barcelona wrapped up the game in style with a goal in additional time when Caroline Graham Hansen passed the ball across the face of goal for Esmee Brugts to finish from close range.
The game ended with a 4-0 victory for Barcelona, who return to winning ways after their draw against Benfica.
