Sant Joan DespíThere are no formalities for Barça. Every match, even with the guaranteed classification and group leadership, is a golden opportunity for Barça. With more or less football brilliance, the Catalans always end up showing a striking superiority over any rival. In the last game of the group stage, the Danish Koge had no chance of shaking Barça’s strength. The team led by Jonatan Giráldez scored again (5-0) and is heading towards the quarterfinals as a clear rival to beat.
The Barça coach’s intention was to take advantage of the match to rotate. His gala eleven has had few games to rest and the Koge’s visit was the perfect setting to get the spare parts going. Giving minutes to the less used footballers allowed the undisputed headlines to rest, but also to offer a competitive pace to the less usual ones in view of a season that must be long. The approach followed this maxim, but Giráldez could not dodge the injuries. Caldentey’s legs said enough. In the 20th minute of the game, Felanitx, after making a cross over the bottom line that ended up crossing the crossbar, lay on the ground with his hands in his face. His companions, instantly, turned to the bench to demand assistance. Despite the care, Caldentey asked for the change while touching the back of his right leg thigh. The only negative note of the night.
Before the change, Leila Ouahabi scored her fifth goal as a Barça player. With a cross that ended up poisoning, Mataró passed the ball on the spur of the moment. It was 1-0, and allowed Ouahabi to debut his scoring account this season. Although the game was considered a formality, Barça went to work in the first half. Without haste, but without pause, the local team often came to Marckese’s goal, and the second goal was scored by Fridolina Rölfo, Caldentey’s replacement. The Swede finished off a cross from Alexia on the first post to beat the Danish goalkeeper.
Alexia’s goal to lift Johan
But there is no game in which Alexia Putellas is not the protagonist. The Barça captain is always there, either providing the goal to one of his teammates or doing it himself. Against Koge, Mollet del Vallès once again fattened their goal-scoring record: they controlled a ball bouncing inside the area and at half-time the best player in Europe once again raised the (few) assholes gathered in the Johan Cruyff Stadium on a cold winter night in late autumn.
In the second half the rain of goals continued. The ball that came in first was Rölfo’s, although the referee annulled the goal for offside. The second time he went on the scoreboard. Ingrid Engen neatly controlled the ball after a short corner, and knocked it on to Graham Hansen who had the whole net open before him, but only managed to hit the post. The Norwegian is not playing the leading role expected with her signing, but her first goal as a Barça player helped her dispel doubts and gain confidence. With 4-0 on the scoreboard, Koge had their first chance of danger. In the 69th minute, Kramer sent the ball to the crossbar, but this scare was diluted in a match dominated entirely by the set of Jonatan Giráldez.
Barça’s overwhelming superiority, however, was still on the verge of becoming more palpable thanks to Lieke Martens. The Dutchwoman, who a few days ago lifted the Golden Woman award and had entered the second half, signed a Vaseline that once again lifted all the fans from her seat. From three quarters, Martens overtook Marckese and ran to celebrate with his teammates, as if it were a goal that takes a step into the quarters. There are no formal matches for Barça: each one is an opportunity to enjoy and consolidate themselves as the great rival to beat in this Champions League.
.
