It was a case of new year, same old Barca on Saturday night when Barcelona Femeni defeated Levante Las Planas 9-1 at home in impeccable fashion. The Blaugrana dominated their opponents for the majority of the game and hammered nine goals past their opponents in the Catalan derby.
Despite having a busy month ahead, Barcelona started the year with a strong squad and was rewarded with a well-deserved win in front of their home fans. The league leaders didn’t take long to open their account for the new year as Salma Paralluelo needed just five minutes to open the scoring for Barcelona. The young forward was well positioned at the far post to fire home Caroline Graham Hansen’s delivery across the face of goal.
In the 22nd minute, Barcelona was awarded a penalty when Mariona Caldentey was fouled in the box after breaking free of the Levanted defense. The Barca number 9 picked herself up and scored from the spot for Barcelona’s second goal.
Five minutes later, Aitana Bonmati scored the third goal of the night with a well executed finish. The Ballon d’Or winner turned brilliantly away from her marker as she received Caroline Graham Hansen’s pass in the box before sending a right-footed shot into the bottom corner.
Caroline Graham Hansen eventually got her name on the scoresheet in the 41st minute when she dinked the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper into the back of the net. The Norwegian forward broke free of the defense line and latched onto Mariona Caldentey’s overhead pass to make it 4-0 for Barcelona at halftime.
Barcelona kept pressing for more goals in the second half and it took them five minutes after the restart to get their fifth goal of the night. Claudia Pina fired into the bottom corner of the net following a failed clearance by the Levante backline.
One minute later, goalscorer turned provider as Pina’s pass found Patri Guijarro on the edge of the box. The Spanish midfielder took a touch before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner to make it six goals for Barcelona.
Levante got a consolation goal in the 63rd minute following Ingrid Engen’s error at the back. Allegria Pollack took advantage of the defender’s mistake and slotted the ball beyond Sandra Panos in goal for Barcelona.
Substitute Vicky Lopez got on the scoresheet in the 84th minute after latching to a loose ball and sending a low shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the box to make the scoreline 7-1 in favor of Barcelona.
With five minutes additional time, Barcelona refused to take their foot off the gas and got two more goals before the final whistle. In the 92nd minute, Patri Guijarro got her brace when she headed home from close range after Levante failed to clear their lines from a Barcelona corner.
Asisat Oshoala wrapped up the night for Barcelona a minute later after winning the ball in a dnaerous position in the Levante half. Vicky Lopez passed to the Nigerian forward who drifted and dragged her marker wide before firing a low shot into the far corner to make it 9-1 for Barcelona.
The Catalan giants win their first match of the year 9-1 in front of their home crowd, and head into their Copa de la Reina quarterfinal match against Fundacion Albacete in high spirits.
