Barça Bounces Back with Victory Over Atletico Madrid Before International Break

FC Barcelona reclaimed their winning form, securing a vital victory against Atletico Madrid in the Women’s La Liga. The triumph, featuring goals from Salma Paralluelo and Vicky López, comes as a rejuvenating relief after the unexpected draw against Levante in the previous round. Heading into the international break, Barça remains the undisputed league leaders with 52 points.

Despite facing a challenging match, FC Barcelona emerged as the deserving winners. The Blaugranas struggled to unsettle Atletico’s formidable goalkeeper, Lola Gallardo, with attempts from Ona Batlle, Patri, and especially Caroline Graham Hansen. The Norwegian danced past Atletico’s defense repeatedly, showcasing remarkable ball control and movement along the touchline. Lola, however, thwarted Graham Hansen’s attempts with two outstanding saves.

Salma Paralluelo, however, broke the deadlock at the Estadi Johan Cruyff. Esmee Brugts delivered a precise pass from the edge of the box, and the Spanish forward exhibited composure to beat Lola unexpectedly, opening the scoring.

The Cules received their deserved reward In the second half, Atletico’s manager, Manolo Cano, sought to shake up the game with the introductions of Marta Cardona and former Blaugrana player Crnogorcevic, who received a warm ovation from the 5,289 spectators in Sant Joan Despí. Atletico managed to control the game’s pace, keeping the result open until the closing stages, attempting to find an isolated play to level the score.

Ajibalde had a golden opportunity, regaining possession after a clear foul on Engen that went unnoticed by the referee. Carmona found herself unmarked, but the Nigerian forward’s shot lacked conviction, easily handled by Cata Coll.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Barcelona reaped the rewards of another goal. Graham Hansen initiated the play from the right-wing, passing the ball to Ona Batlle, who conjured up a shot that Lola Gallardo parried but failed to fully clear. Vicky López capitalized on the loose ball inside the box, taking advantage of Lola’s vulnerability, sealing the final 2-0 victory.

After a week filled with off-field noise, particularly with Alexia Putellas’ national team call-up for the UEFA Nations League Final Four without medical clearance, the team responded emphatically on the Johan Cruyff Stadium turf.

Giráldez’s Perspective In the post-match press conference, Jonatan Giráldez addressed the surprise of Alexia’s call-up. “My version is that she was called up by the Spanish national team. The information we had on the day of the Levante match was that she wouldn’t be called up. The next day, she appeared, so I suppose there was some conversation there. Personally, it was a surprise, but it’s not within my control or the club’s. We sent the player’s medical report and anything related to the player and the call-up should be asked there. I am concerned about this change in dynamics,” expressed the Barça coach to the media.

In summary, FC Barcelona heads into the international break with a significant and well-deserved victory, maintaining their stronghold atop the Women’s La Liga. For comprehensive LaLiga statistics, including top goal-scorers, Zamora Trophy standings, and the list of red or yellow cards, you can explore the complete data through the provided link.