The league champions continued the defense of their crown away from home against Villareal on Matchday 8 in Liga F. Barcelona defeated the ‘Yellow Submarines’ by 4-0 courtesy of goals from Aitana Bonmati (2), Asisat Oshoala (2), Salma Paralluelo, and an own goal.
With Barcelona set to resume Champions League action on Tuesday, the Blaugrana made eight changes to the starting lineup that won 8-0 in the demolition of Sevilla. The rotation was necessary to give key players enough rest ahead of the game.
First Half
Villareal kicked off the game and started very brightly as they looked to put Barcelona under pressure in the early minutes of the game. However, Barcelona soon got into the groove and enacted their usual dominance on the ball in no time.
Claudia Pina came close to opening the scoring with a well-struck shot from outside the box after being teed up by Esmee Brugts. However, she was denied thanks to a great save from the goalkeeper.
With their dominance and possession of the ball, a Barcelona goal was inevitable, and the first goal arrived in the 14th minute when Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati opened the scoring for Barcelona with a low shot from inside the box that squirmed underneath the Villareal goalkeeper. Goalkeeper error or not, the goal sstood,and Barcelona took the lead.
Barcelona kept attacking in search of a second goal before halftime, and they were rewarded for their efforts. Ona Batlle burst down the left flank and teased a low cross that was met by Asisat Oshola in the opposition’s box. The Nigerian forward was never going to miss from close range, and she sent Barcelona two goals up at halftime.
Second Half
Barcelona started the second half brilliantly and went in search of more goals to put the match beyond their opponents. The champions scored four goals in the second 45 minutes to secure all three points.
Five minutes into the restart, Aitana Bonmati got a brace after placing a low shot into the right bottom corner of the goal. A neat exchange of passes between Ona Battle and Salma Paralluelo ended with the former delivering a low cross into the box for Aitana to finish.
Barcelona kept their dominance in the game and made some substitutions with their mid-week Champions League clash in mind.
The Blaugrana kept creating chances after chances; however, it wasn’t until the 77th minute that they got their fourth goal of the game. Mariona Caldentey found Salma Paralluelo in the box with a delightful lob pass over the defense, and the young forward calmly controlled and finished with her right foot.
Barcelona were not done yet, as they hit Villareal for five in the 82nd minute. Alexia Putellas was fouled on the edge of the box, resulting in a Barcelona freekick. Caroline Graham Hansen took the freekick, and her shot was deflected into the back of the net by the Villareal wall.
Barca pressed for more goals until the final whistle, and Asisat Oshoala also got a brace when she headed home from a rebound in the 85th minute. Alexia Putellas’s shot was saved by the goalkeeper, and the Nigerian forward was the quickest to react to the loose ball.
Alexia Putellas and Mariona Caldentey also came very close to scoring but ended up putting their shots wide of the goal post.
Barcelona Femeni ended the game 6-0 winners at the end of regulation time, making it their biggest win away this season. The win will serve as a boost in morale for the team, which will start the defense of their Champions League crown midweek.
Barcelona’s next game is a Champions League clash against Benfica at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Tuesday, November 14.
