Barcelona Femeni got back to winning ways on Matchday 30 when they defeated Athletic Bilbao by a score of 3-0. After having their winning run in the league brought to an end by Sevilla in their previous game, the Liga F champions made sure to put the memories of the stalemate behind them and bag a win in their last home game of the season.
The Catalan Queens came out roaring from the first minute of the game. Even though it did take an hour of play to break the deadlock, they dominated the entirety of the game, from start to finish and got their reward.
The Spanish champions now have one match left to complete the league season and focus on their UEFA Champions League final to be played on June 3 in Eindhoven.
We bring you a quick rundown of how the game went down at Estadi Johan Cryuff
First Half
Barcelona got the first chance of the game in the 7th minute following a beautiful exchange of passes between Salma Paralluelo and Nuria Rabano. The former’s shot ended up being overhit, and the ball sailed harmlessly over the goal post.
In the 9th minute of the game, Athletic Club’s captain, Marta Unzue, suffered an injury after colliding with Barcelona’s top scorer, Asisat Oshoala, and had to be forced off very early in the game.
Oshoala also came close to scoring in the 22nd minute after Aitana Bonmati’s pass found her in the box. The Nigerian forward was unable to shake off her marker and ended up directing her shot wide of the goal.
Caroline Graham whipped in a beautiful cross in the 28th minute that found Patri Guijarro, whose headed effort went flying over the crossbar.
A minute later, another Barcelona cross missed everyone in front of goal, but the loose ball got to Marta Torrejon, who took a first time shot that was saved by the Athletic Club’s goalkeeper. The rebound fell to Paralluelo, who twisted and turned around the Athletic defenders only to see her shot blocked.
Barcelona kept knocking on the door desperately in search of a goal, but efforts from Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, and Nuria Rabano ended up wide of the goal post.
In the 43rd minute, Barcelona came close to breaking the deadlock when Oshoala found Paralluelo with a low cross into the box. The onrushing winger, who was closely marshaled by an Athletic defender, was unable to direct her shot towards goal.
The fourth official raised the board to show 3 minutes of added time due to time wasted as a result of an injury suffered by the Athletic Club captain in the 8th minute of the game. In the last minute of added time, Barcelona almost conceded a goal as Sandra Panos kicked the ball directly into an Athletic Club player in front of her goal. Thankfully, the rebound from the shot was off-target.
The first 45 minutes of the game were dominated by the Blaugrana. However, the champions were kept at bay by Athletic Club’s defense and were unable to break the deadlock heading into halftime.
Second Half
Barcelona came closest to scoring all game in the 55th minute when Caroline Graham Hansen’s shot on goal was cleared off the line. It was the closest Barcelona had come to scoring in the game.
In the 59th minute, Oshoala’s headed effort went flying over the crossbar, and a minute later, Ingrid Engen’s shot went just wide off the goal post.
However, Athletic Club could only delay Barcelona’s goal, as the champions wouldn’t be denied a goal as a reward for their efforts. Salma Paralluelo set up Caroline Graham Hansen for the Catalan side’s first goal of the match. The Norwegian forward calmly put the ball past Athletic Club’s goalkeeper and found the bottom corner of the net.
After the goal, Barcelona made a few changes that saw Irene Paredes, Keira Walsh, and Ana Crnogorcevic thrown into the fray in search of a second goal.
The move paid off when substitute Irene Paredes headed home Barcelona’s second goal of the game from Graham Hansen’s corner kick in the 68th minute.
Brought in to replace Nuria Rabano at left back, Ana Crnogorcevic acted as an additional option in attack. She came very close to getting Barcelona’s third goal of the encounter when she struck the crossbar with a rifling shot in the 78th minute after dribbling past her marker.
Even though the game was already won, Barcelona wasn’t done yet. In the last minute of added time, Graham Hansen’s delivery from a corner kick found Salma Paralluelo, who headed home Barcelona’s third goal of the game right on the cusp of the final whistle.
Goals and Assists
FC Barcelona Femeni
62′ Caroline Graham Hansen – GOAL
Salma Paralluelo – ASSIST
68′ Irene Paredes – GOAL
Caroline Graham Hansen – ASSIST
93′ Salma Paralluelo – GOAL
Caroline Graham Hansen – ASSIST
Substitutions
66′ Irene Paredes, Ana Maria Crnogorcevic, Keira Walsh – IN
Laia Codina, Nuria Rabano, Ingrid Engen – OUT
74′ Mariona Caldentey, Alexia Putellas – IN
Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmati – OUT
It was another dominant display from the league champions who now have one game left in the league this season. Barcelona’s last match at home this season ended with a 3-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao. The champions will play their last league game of the season away to Madrid CFF on Matchday 31 before heading to Eindhoven for the final Of the UEFA Women’s Champions League where they would be facing Wolfsburg on June 3.
