Barcelona, Atletico Madrid win as Madrid CFF turn fire on Las Planas: Week Three Liga F Round Up
Barcelona were made to work hard for their 4-1 victory over hosts Villarreal at the Ciudad Deportiva on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts thought they had found the opener in the opening minutes but their goal was ruled out for offside before the visitors found the opener through defender María Pilar León from a freekick and went to half-time leading 1-0.
Forward Asisat Oshoala opened her 2022/23 account in the 48th minute when she converted a pass from fellow forward Mariona Caldentey with a lovely chip to double her side’s lead.
The hosts pulled one back eight minutes later through forward Rocío García Fernández.
Barcelona retained their two goal cushion when forward Clàudia Pina scored just nine minutes after replacing Oshoala in the 66th minute.
Defender Lara Mata was unfortunate to beat her own keeper in the 85th minute to make it 4-1 to Barcelona.
Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid left it late to snatch a one-nil victory against a stubborn Alavés at the Estadio Wanda Atlético de Madrid Alcalá de Henares on Sunday.
The two sides failed to breach each other’s defence in the first 45 minutes and the hosts were the first to make changes with midfielder Estefanía Banini and forward Andrea Stašková coming on for forwards Sheila García and Rasheedat Ajibade respectively in the 65th minute.
The match looked headed for a disappointing draw for Atletico against lowly Alavés until forward Ludmila broke the visitors’ hearts when she scored in the 90th minute to win it for the hosts and secure maximum points.
Madrid CFF made it two wins in two games as they beat newcomers Levante Las Planas 3-1 at the Estadio Municipal Nuevo Matapiñonera on Saturday.
Las Planas opened the scoring in the 13th minute through Irina Uribe and went to the break leading 1-0.
The hosts came back a determined side and equalised in the 58th minute through forward Racheal Kundananji. The forward doubled the hosts’ lead in the 64th minute for her brace before Mônica Hickmann made it 3-1 from the penalty spot.
The win was a perfect start for the hosts as they temporarily went top of the standings after the match.
Sporting Huelva recorded a 1-0 victory over newcomers Alhama ElPozo at the Campo Federativo de la Orden on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams were initially determined to see the match end in a draw before Sporting Huelva had other ideas with forward Bárbara López Gorrado’s scoring in the 82nd minute to secure maximum points.
The win was a welcome relief to the hosts as they aim to collect as many points as they can to avoid another relegation fight this season.
Valencia beat Sevilla 2-0 at the Estadio Antonio Puchades on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts needed two second half goals to seal victory after being pegged for most of the time by the visitors.
Forward Anita Marcos opened the scoring from the penalty spot just after the hour mark to give the hosts the lead before midfielder Macarena Portales Nieto doubled the lead in the 87th minute to put the match to bed.
Real Sociedad and Real Betis played to a two-all draw at the Instalaciones de Zubieta on Saturday evening.
The hosts took the lead in the 35th minute when forward Amaiur Sarriegi converted a pass from fellow forward Sanni Franssi.
The lead did not last long as Betis responded with a goal from midfielder Ángela Sosa who converted a pass from midfielder Grace Asantewaa in the 43rd minute. Five minutes from half-time the visitors took the lead for the first time in the match when Leles put them ahead.
Midfielder Andreia Jacinto restored parity for the hosts when she converted midfielder Gabriela García’s pass in the 58th minute and that proved to be enough for the teams to share the spoils for both teams who had missed goal scoring opportunities to finish off the match.
Real Sociedad will be preparing for the second leg of the champions league away at Bayern Munich on Thursday.
Levante beat Athletic Club 2-0 at the Ciudad Deportiva de Buñol - Campo 1 on Sunday evening.
The hosts opened the scoring through forward Alba Redondo when she converted a pass from defender Paula Tomás in the 38th minute. Forward Mayra Ramírez doubled the hosts’ lead in the 56th minute when she bundled home a pass from midfielder Paula Fernández and that proved to be enough for the hosts to collect maximum points.
Results (Saturday): Madrid CFF 3-1 Levante Las Planas; Sporting Huelva 1-0 Alhama CF ElPozo; Valencia 2-0 Sevilla; Real Sociedad 2-2 Real Betis
Results (Sunday): Atlético Madrid 1-0 Alavés; Villarreal 1-4 Barcelona; Levante 2-0 Athletic Club; UDG Tenerife vs Real Madrid (Postponed)