Sant Joan Despí, Oct 5 (EFE) .- Barcelona returned to Europe making it clear that after lifting the Champions League the previous year they are once again one of the great candidates to win the trophy thanks to a remarkable match against one of the best teams on the continent, Arsenal, which they defeated 4-1 at Estadi Johan Cruyff with two goals from Asisat Oshoala, one from Alexia Putellas and the other from Lieke Martens.
Throughout the match the dominance was of the Catalans, who finished with 65% possession and dizzy the English defense again and again with their combination plays.
Arsenal, leaders of the English Premier League with all the matches won, had jumped to Johan Cruyff with practically the same eleven that beat Chelsea, the current runner-up in Europe, 3-2. There was only one change, that of the Australian Steph Catley for the Japanese Mana Iwabuchi on the left wing.
Jonas Eidevall’s team, despite Barça’s dominance, did not find an unknown match situation. Arsenal is a team that lives on counterattacks and direct attacks, taking advantage of the quality of their forwards, especially the Dutch Vivianne Miedema, who scored 10 goals in the last Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The great merit of Barça was to achieve that practically no balls reached them and that they ended up substituted in the 56th minute.
Who broke the tie to zero was Mariona Caldentey in the 31st minute, taking advantage of a centered rebound from Zinsberger to a shot from Asisat Oshoala. Even before the break, in minute 42, the Nigerian player overflowed down the left wing to give the ball inside the area to Alexia Putellas, who defined to make it 2-0.
Nothing changed in the second half, which began with the same from Oshoala, who did not fail to be alone in a heads-up with Zinsberger. From then on, the rhythm of the game decreased and the English team took advantage of it to reach Sandra Paños’ area for the first time. The reward came in the 74th minute with a goal from Frida Maanum taking advantage of a corner.
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In any case, at no time was Barça’s triumph in danger despite the fact that Alexia Putellas wasted a penalty. In 84, Lieke Martens put the final 4-1 chopping the ball before the departure of the Arsenal goalkeeper. In the other group match, Hoffenheim beat Danish Køge 5-0.
– Datasheet:
4 – Barcelona: Sandra Paños; Torrejón, Paredes, Mapi León, Crnogorcevic (Rolfö, min. 76); Patri Guijarro, Aitana, Alexia Putellas; Graham Hansen, Mariona (Bruna Vilamala, min. 83) and Oshoala (Martens, min. 71).
1 – Arsenal: Zinsberger; Maritz, Williamson, Beattie, Catley; Lia Wälti (Nobbs, min. 71), Kim Little (Iwabuchi, min. 79), Maanum; Mead (Foord, min. 56), McCabe (Heath, min. 56) y Vivianne Miedema (Parris, min. 56).
Goals: 1-0: Mariona Caldentey, min 31; 2-0: Alexia Putellas, min. 42. 3-0: Mariona Caldentey, min. 47. 3-1: Frida Maanum, min. 74. 4-1: Lieke Martens, min. 84.
Referee: Jana Adámková (Czech). He showed a yellow card to Patri Guijarro (min. 46) for Barcelona and to Kattie McCabe (min. 35), Beth Mead (min. 50), Caitlin Foord (min. 76), Jordan Nobbs (min. 90 + 4) and Nikita Parris (min. 90 + 5) for Arsenal.
Incidents: Match of the first day of group C of the Champions League played at the Johan Cruyff Stadium before 2,968 spectators with a reduced capacity due to health restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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(c) EFE Agency
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