FC Barcelona begins the defense of its throne with a placid victory
The Blaugrana team defeats Benfica 5-0 without accelerating too much in its debut in the Champions League
MADRID, 14 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona did not have too many problems to add its first victory in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League 2023-2024 after winning this Tuesday at the Johan Cruyff Stadium by a clear 5-0 against the Portuguese Benfica, a duel that decided in the first part and without giving the sensation of accelerating too much.
The start of the defense of the continental throne was peaceful for the Blaugrana team, which although they did not overwhelm the Lisbon team as they did last season (9-0), they did not suffer excessively either and their rival practically knelt down as soon as they conceded the first goal. goal after a quarter of an hour.
The locals were able to reserve energy ahead of Real Madrid’s League F visit on Sunday in order to open a gap in the domestic standings and the only scare on a quiet night came from Alexia Putellas, who had to leave the game after the rest due to a blow to the knee.
Jonatan Giráldez decided to reserve some piece for the next league duel, with Patri Guijarro on the bench after receiving the medical discharge and with Irene Paredes as a last-minute absence due to tonsillitis, which caused the Norwegian Ingrid Engen to form a partner in the center of the rear with ‘Mapi’ León. Alexia Putellas was once again the ‘false 9’, accompanied by the young Esme Brugts and the always incisive Caroline Graham Hansen.
Benfica, with former Blaugrana Andrea Sánchez Falcón in the eleven, wanted to demonstrate its competitive progression and that it had learned the lesson from last year. He tried to have the ball as much as possible and to make his rival uncomfortable when he had it, but the plan fell apart too soon. Graham Hansen showed his ability against a certain passivity of the visiting defense and his shot bounced off Alexia Putellas to make it 1-0.
The goal encouraged the current champion, who tried to quickly put an end to the match and had two other good chances from their captain and Brugts, the Dutch one being taken out between the posts by a defender. However, before the break, he punished his rival with two goals, the first, according to UEFA, from his captain who pushed, in a doubtful position, a header from Brugts that was already in after a great send from ‘Mapi’ León, and the second, the work of Aitana Bonmatí, who started and finished a quick transition with quality.
After the break, Putellas stayed on the bench upset with her knee after a blow in the early stages of the match and Patri Guijarro came on. Barça did not relax and ended the continental debut at the hour mark with two more goals, the second from Aitana Bonmatí, who did not forgive another stoppage by Graham Hansen, a ‘torment’ for the ‘incarnate’ defence, and the final one from Asisat Oshoala, who just came out onto the field and performed an acrobatic overhead kick to sign the ‘little hand’.
From then on, the Catalan team lost some energy, perhaps thinking about the demanding schedule ahead, but Benfica was not able to take advantage of it, even to further worry a Cata Coll team that lived a night with hardly any work.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 5 – BENFICA, 0 (3-0, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
FC BARCELONA: Coll; Torrejón, Engen, León, Batlle; Bonmatí, Walsh (Pina, min.71), Caldentey (Oshoala, min.60); Graham Hansen (López, min.78), Putellas (Guijarro, min.46) and Brugts (Paralluelo, min.60).
BENEFIT: Pauels; Amado, Seiça, Araujo, Alves (Almeida, min.87); Alidou (Norton, min.65), Gasper, Faria; Silva (Cintra, min.65), Kika (Martins, min.87) and Sánchez Falcón (Raysla, min.57).
–GOALS.
1-0, minute 15. Alexia Putellas.
2-0, minute 39. Alexia Putellas.
3-0, minute 44. Aitana Bonmatí.
4-0, minute 52. Aitana Bonmatí.
5-0, minute 61. Asisat Oshoala.
–REFEREE: Lina Lehtovaara (FIN). He cautioned Amado (min.35) and Alves (min.65), for Benfica.
–STADIUM: Johan Cruyff. 4,536 spectators
2023-11-14 22:12:31
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