“I am aware that it is a very difficult job, but this much?” Barcelona Femení manager Pere Romeu asked reporters after a contentious 3–0 win over Granada at the Johan Cruyff Stadium.
Barcelona overcame a stubborn low block on September 28, 2024, breaking through in the second half thanks to the tactical introduction of Norwegian winger Caroline Graham Hansen. The victory keeps the Catalan side moving forward in Liga F, though the post-match discourse centered squarely on officiating standards and video assistant referee interventions.
Granada Low Block frustrates Barcelona until Graham Hansen Breaks the Deadlock
Adrian Martín set Granada up in a rigid 5–4–1 formation designed to suffocate space and deny Barcelona penetration through the middle. The visiting side successfully frustrating the hosts for over an hour, echoing a tactical blueprint deployed by Real Society just weeks prior. Goalkeeper Laura Sánchez turned away dangerous efforts from Renee Van Asten, Aitana Bonmatí, and Sydney Schertenleib during a tense opening 45 minutes.
With the score deadlocked, Pere Romeu introduced Graham Hansen off the bench in the 54th minute alongside Claudia Pina. The tactical shift immediately altered the tempo. In the 67th minute, Graham Hansen delivered a cross that Ewa Pajor narrowly missed, allowing Esmee Brugts to react quickest inside the box and prod home the opening goal.
Five minutes later, Patri Guijarro sliced a precise pass through the Granada backline to find Graham Hansen, who doubled the lead with a composed finish. The scoring was capped off in the 90th minute when Graham Hansen whipped a corner kick toward the near post, forcing Granada defender Tere Mérida to turn the ball into her own net for an own goal.
Pere Romeu Criticizes Video Review Standards After Disputed Penalties
The post-match news conference highlighted growing frustration from the Barcelona bench regarding officiating and VAR consistency across the league. Pere Romeu pointed directly to a controversial penalty not awarded the previous week against Real Society, which resulted in the team’s first defeat of the campaign.
Against Granada, referee Eugenia Gil Soriano reviewed a penalty appeal involving central defender Irene Paredes on the pitchside monitor following a lengthy stoppage, ultimately ruling against the hosts after an earlier penalty shout involving Jenni López and Paredes also went unpunished.
“I have always been very respectful, educated, and wanted to talk things through, but I see that this way does not work,” Romeu said. “I know that the league lacks a lot of images. Many times, we see things clearly on tactical cameras and then the VAR images are completely difficult. It has reached a point where I have decided not to listen to some of their arguments.”
Special Kit Tradition Continues at the Johan Cruyff Stadium
The fixture marked the continuation of Barcelona Femení’s annual special-edition kit initiative in partnership with Spotify. Following last season’s appearance featuring Ed Sheeran’s Play logo during a 2–0 win over Granada, the squad donned a jersey showcasing American artist Tyler, the Creator and his brand Golf Wang (GOLF).
Despite the high-profile branding and a crowd of 2,663 spectators at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, the attendance figures reflected the ongoing challenges posed by scheduling and ticket pricing for midweek and afternoon fixtures in the domestic competition.
