Like someone returning to their safe place. Where he was happy. Where you escape from the hustle and bustle and can enjoy without rushing, savoring every second. So he came back Barça in the Champions League against Benfica (5-0), despite the bitter (very bitter) note of the night that was the injury to Alexia Putellas. Triumph and scare for the culés, who have their sights set on the infirmary.
The owners of the European crown stepped onto the grass again while the Champions League anthem played 164 days after lifting the trophy in Eindhoven. It’s been long. And they were the two leaders of the Barça team, Aitana and Alexia, the two queens of football and culé emblems, those who led a team that now looks to the infirmary after the injury of one of them. Alexia Putellas had to be substituted at half-time after feeling discomfort in left kneethe one that caused him so many nightmares.
The first, by Alexia
Despite the abrupt ending, the first to smile on the Johan Cruyff pitch was Alexia. In case anyone doubted, questioned or, in an illusory way, did not recognize the importance of Ballon d’Or twice In this champion team, the Barça captain once again kept quiet on the pitch. Alexia, who took advantage of a cross from Graham Hansen, finished off a split ball from inside the area with her head.
Despite the elbow he received, he sent the ball into the net. In the celebration, half euphoric, half limping from the blow, Alexia smiled at a Johan who did not stop chanting his name since the Champions League started in the culé temple. And, as a culmination, she kissed the shield. Declaration of intentions, silencing rumors and claiming which team feels the colors.
The blaugrana, already Barça’s top scorer in the Champions League after beating Jenni Hermoso with the goal against Benfica, he made the hearts of the culés stop in a chilling ‘oh’ minutes later. After the goal play, the captain began to test her left knee. She had noticed something. That knee in which she broke her cruciate last year and which kept her away from the team for too many months. The one she cursed countless times. That knee hurt her when she went to the band to talk to the doctors. She was touching just the back of her as she related that she had noticed a tugging.
Medical services took her off the field, placing her on the bench to examine her while the game resumed. Some minutes of silence at Johan that became eternal. It took him a couple of minutes to return to the field, with a certain limp, and under the watchful eyes of everyone present. Little by little he tested himself, without transmitting much security, that is. But, the queen, despite not being 100%, continued to make the differences. Her boot was the one that pushed the ball after a kick from Esme Brugts, the great Barça promise who arrived in Sant Joan Despí this summer, almost on the goal line. He didn’t want to leave anything to chance and accompanied her to the back of the net.
Fright and change
Barça’s dominance, overwhelming against a combative Benfica, was ratified with a genius of Aitana Bonmatí. The brand new Ballon d’Or winner could not miss the Barça team’s debut in the Champions League and, with a new example of his magic with the ball, he drew an exultant ovation from Johan Cruyff. The ’14’ did and undid as he pleased, with the ball always close to his feet. He first served her on a platter Caroline Graham Hansen a ball into space so that the Norwegian, alone, returned it when the Catalan was already planted inside the area. After getting dizzy and twisting inside the rectangle, and with a couple of deadly dribbles for Ana Seiça that caused her to end up on the ground, Aitana caressed the ball and brought it close to the right post of the Portuguese team’s goal. Celebrated with a blow of rage to the sky of Sant Joan Despí, Aitana headed the culé rout.
After the break, the worst news for Barcelona fans arrived. Alexia Putellas was replaced by the inconvenience on his left knee. The first explorations determined that it was better to be cautious and give the culé captain a rest.
Aitana and a new recital
Aitana remained the leader on the field. The blaugrana was the one who ordered the team and temporized with the ball at her feet until, once again, he gave a little of his talent to the 4,536 spectators present in the Johan stands. Repeating connection with Graham Hansen, Aitana finished first with her right foot to add the fourth in the light.
???? Asisat Oshoala with her first touch ????????#UWCL pic.twitter.com/l9oHw2QbI1
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL) November 14, 2023
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And, for genius, the one that came out of his sleeve Asisat Oshoala on the first ball he touched after entering the field after match time. The Nigerian signed a textbook bicycle kick with which she sent the ball under the Portuguese goalkeeper until it collided with the net.
Barça debuts in the Champions League as it finished last season: reigning. The culés, happy with the victory and the football displayed in their debut, left with the crooked getto to the locker room. The bill for this victory may be too expensive if Alexia Putellas’ injury is confirmed.
FC Barcelona, 5; Benfica, 0
FC BARCELONA: Cata Coll; Marta Torrejón, Engen, Mapi León, Batlle; Aitana, Walsh (Pina, d. 71), Mariona (Oshoala, d. 59); Graham (Vicky, m. 78), Alexia (Patri, m. 46) and Brugts (Salma, m. 59)
BENFICA: Pauels; Catarina Amado, Ana Seiça, Araujo, Lucía Alves (Almeida, d. 87); Alidou (Norton, d. 65), Gasper, Andreia Faria; Jéssica Silva (Cintra, m. 65), Francisca Nazareth (Martins, m. 87) and Andrea Falcón (Raysla, m. 57)
GOALS: 1-0, Alexia (m. 15); 2-0, Alexia (m. 39); 3-0, Aitana (m. 44′); 4-0, Aitana (m. 51); 5-0, Oshoala (m. 61)
SPECTATORS: 4,536 in the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
2023-11-14 20:57:13
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