Caroline Graham Hansen: Barça Femení April Player of the Month

FC Barcelona Femení had a very tricky fixture in April, with all to play for, booking a spot in Eindhoven for the UEFA Women’s Champions League final and securing the Liga F title without dragging out the league.

Of the 5 games played in April, Barcelona won four and drew one. They played against Alhama CF on the 2nd of the month, Atletico Madrid on the 15th, Chelsea FC at home on the 27th and the away game on the 22nd, and Sporting Club Huelva on the last day of April. Scoring a total of 11 goals and conceding 1 to only the Chelsea FC Women’s team.

Norwegian forward Caroline Graham Hansen proved to be crucial to the wins. She contributed 4 goals and an assist. Scoring two important and match-winning goals against Chelsea FC in the UEFA Womens Champions League, which booked the Catalan team a spot in the final.

The winger came in the 46th minute of the game against Alhama CF and scored the opening goal and Barcelona went on to win the match with a 2-0 scoreline with an own goal from the opposition team.

Against Atletico Madrid, the Norwegian winger had an assist and a goal. Contributing to the 4-0 win against a difficult team.

In the first leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final against Chelsea, a very tough team, she scored the only goal of the game with a very brilliant individual effort, which later proved to be very important as the goal booked the Spanish team spot in the final. Once again, She scored Barcelona’s only goal in the second leg of the tie.

Stats for April

Caroline Graham-Hansen’s consistent performances since she came back from injury have been a massive boost to the Barcelona team.

It was not an easy choice to pick due to the many impressive moments and players’ contributions. For one Aitana Bonmati also had an amazing month as she also scored two goals and an assist against the Atletico Madrid Femenino, she also assisted Caroline Graham Hansen for the UEFA Womens Champions League goal at the Spotify Camp Nou, with an individual brilliant run and effort. Aside from scoring, she showed her amazing quality with good performances.

Plenty of the Barca Femeni players showed up big this month from Irene Parades to Keira Walsh to Mariona Caldentey who just got back from injury.

Amidst a tough schedule, Caroline Graham Hansen’s contribution has ensured important victories in very difficult games, thus, making her our April player of the month.

Liga F: 02/04/2023
Alhama CF vs Barcelona

• Minutes Played: 45
• Goals: 1
• Match Ratings: 7.5

She came into the game in the early minutes of the start of the second half and scored just ten minutes after coming on. Barcelona went on to win the game with a 2-0 lead with her goal and an own goal from the home team.

Liga F: 15/04/2023
FC Barcelona Femeni vs Atletico Madrid Femenino

• Minutes Played: 63
• Goals: 1
• Assist: 1
• Match Ratings: 8

Barcelona faced a desperate Atletico Madrid team who were aiming for a spot in the next season’s UWCL in a home game. Caroline Graham Hansen was a persistent threat on the right wing, taking on the Atletico backline with audacious dribble every time she got on the ball. She assisted the first goal, picking up a long diagonal pass from Rolfo and laying it for Aitana Bonmati to score the first goal of the game. She also got a goal herself, registering her name on the scoresheet. It was an impressive 63 minutes performance from the Norwegian.

UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-Final: 22/04/2023
Chelsea FC Women vs FC Barcelona Femeni

• Minutes Played: 84
• Goals: 1
• Shot: 3
• Shot on target: 2
• Shot off target: 1
• Dribble attempt: 8
• Successful dribble: 5
• Touches: 66
• Accurate passes: 28 (78%)
• Key passes: 1
• Completed cross: 2
• Ground duels won: 5
• Aerial duels won: 1
• Match Ratings: 8
• Stat Credit: Sofascore

Chelsea FC Women vs Barcelona Femeni fixture was always going to be a difficult match considering that the London team defeated the reigning Champion Lyon in the quarter-final and they were looking to revenge the 2021 final in which they lost to the Barca Femeni in a 4-0 thrashing.

It was an evenly played match between the two teams as the London team defended and frustrated the Catalan team’s efforts with their defensive gameplay all through the match.

Caroline Graham Hansen’s attacking brilliance came straight out immediately after the match started. Scoring an individually brilliant goal from a pass she picked from Geyse in the 5th minute of the match. A goal that later proved to be decisive and the only difference between both teams in the first leg of the semi-final.

UEFA Women’s Champions League Semi-Final: 27/04/2023
FC Barcelona Femeni vs Chelsea FC Women

• Minutes Played:
• Goals: 90
• Shot: 4
• Shot on target: 1
• Shot off target: 1
• Shot blocked: 2
• Dribble attempt: 6
• Successful dribble: 3
• Touches: 53
• Accurate passes: 21 (72%)
• Key passes: 2
• Long balls: 1
• Successful Long balls: 1
• Completed crosses: 1
• Ground duels won: 7
• Aerial duels won: 1
• Match Ratings: 8
• Stat Credit: Sofascore

With all still to play for in the second leg of the UEFA Womens Champions League semi-final and hanging on to a 1-0 advantage, Barcelona knew they’d have to put up a fight to see off the London club and book a spot in Eindhoven.

All through the game, CGH worked very hard to break the tie, she tried to penetrate, but the determined Chelsea defense made sure her efforts were not rewarded. She didn’t get the chance until the 63rd minute of the game from a brilliant run and pass from Aitana Bonmati. She scored the first goal of the game again before the Chelsea team got one back to cancel it out.

She did not stop making the runs and dribbles, and her presence on the right wing of the Barcelona attack created a couple of chances for the team. However, they were not able to capitalize on any of the chances due to the low block of the opponent.

Caroline Graham-Hansen was integral to Barcelona’s matches this month, with five goals contribution in four matches. She will continue to be a very important player for the squad in the nearest future.