Pere Romeu warned after the 8-1 in the Copa de la Reina that everything was becoming more equal, and in this Clásico of the Liga F, it has become evident. With controversy included, Real Madrid has defeated FC Barcelona for the first time in history, who tried until the end. The goals from Alba Redondo and Weir twice give three golden points to the team coached by Alberto Toril.
FC Barcelona came to the match with a 7-point advantage over the white team. A victory for the blaugrana would mean leaving the League very well on track, and a victory for Madrid would keep the excitement until the final days. Pere Romeu could not count on Kika Nazareth for this match, who will miss the rest of the season due to an ankle injury.
Barça's coach surprised with his starting eleven due to the presence of Sydney Schertenleib and Marta Torrejón. Salma Paralluelo, Vicky López, Jana Fernández, and Esmee Brugts, who were some of the alternatives, would wait for their turn on the bench. Meanwhile, Madrid also presented several changes compared to its last Champions match.
Barça Forgives, Madrid Doesn't
Barça's players took to the field with a jersey to encourage Kika. The match started with a more offensive Madrid than ever, yet the clearest chance of the first minutes was had by Graham.
Sydney Schertenleib was close to making history and scoring the first goal of the clásico at 18 years old, but Misa Rodríguez prevented it. Barça continued to dominate, and Madrid waited back and tried to take advantage of Athenea and Feller's speed. Unlike other matches, the white team had its opportunities.
Real Madrid would take advantage of a momentary numerical superiority to advance on the scoreboard. Graham was attended to off the field, and Alba Redondo scored the 0-1 with a header.
The same Graham had a very clear chance to tie the match on the brink of halftime with Misa already beaten, but she couldn't take advantage of it. The players headed to the locker room tunnel, and the faces of the blaugrana footballers reflected what happened during the first 45'.
Graham Ties the Match
At halftime, Pere Romeu made changes and brought in Salma and Jana in place of Sydney and Torrejón. The dynamic of the match remained the same, but Barça couldn't generate the magnitude of chances they usually do. In the 64th minute, Esmee Brugts came in for Rölfo.
The change of Esmee Brugts had an effect and allowed Barça to generate clearer chances. Before reaching the 70th minute, the player who always appears when needed, Graham Hansen, appeared. The Norwegian would head a precise cross from Mapi León into the back of the net to make it 1-1 and already think about the comeback.
From 2-1 to 1-3. Nonexistent Offside and Weir Seals the Deal
The controversial play would come in the 81st minute when Alexia chipped a ball to Jana, who shot under Misa and scored. With the players already celebrating, the referee team decided to call a nonexistent positional offside.
The players, incredulous, surrounded the referee to ask for explanations. The goal would have meant 2-1 and ended up costing the blaugrana team. With the team fully committed, Madrid would take advantage of two transitions, and Caroline Weir would score two goals in the 87th and 96th minutes.
Jana Fernández, the author of the disallowed goal for Barça, spoke in the mixed zone and showed a self-critical mentality. "It makes you angry not to have been able to show how we can play. The disallowed goal conditions us, I'd be lying if I said it doesn't condition us. You'd be 2-1 up in the 80th minute, but we have to be self-critical." Pere Romeu and Irene Paredes followed the same line in their statements.