Madrid maintain pressure on Barcelona as Valencia’s good run continues: Liga F Week 20 Round-Up

Second-placed Real Madrid maintained pressure on Barcelona with a convincing 5-1 drubbing of hosts Alhama CF ElPozo at the Campo de Fútbol José María Soriano Muñoz on Saturday evening.

The visitors took a third minute lead through a chipped goal by midfielder Caroline Weir after being set up by fellow midfielder Claudia Zornoza. They doubled their advantage 18 minutes later through midfielder Maite Oroz off a pass from forward Esther González.

The hosts reduced the deficit in the 41st minute through midfielder Kuki but conceded a goal a minute later when midfielder Athenea del Castillo restored the visitors’ two goal advantage.

The hosts made a double change at half-time hoping to add firepower, bringing on midfielder Andrea Carid Cao and forward Astrid Álvarez Navarro for midfielder Marina Martí Serna and defender Olivia Oprea respectively.

González went on to add her name to the scoresheet in the 64th minute when she made it 4-1 to the visitors, taking the game away from the hosts.

The hosts found themselves 5-1 down with two minutes left from full-time when forward Nerea Vicente Fernández put one in her own net.

The win took Real to 55 points, five away from log leaders Barcelona whilst Alhama remain in 15th position with 14 points from 20 matches.

Meanwhile, Barcelona thumped visiting Villarreal 5-0 at the Estadi Johan Cruyff on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when forward Asisat Oshoala converted a headed pass from midfielder Clàudia Pina. The hosts doubled their lead seven minutes from half-time through forward Salma Paralluelo who nicely converted a pass from midfielder Aitana Bonmatí.

Barcelona made a triple change in the 65th minute bringing on forwards Caroline Graham Hansen — who was coming from injury, Geyse and defender Marta Torrejón for midfielder Clàudia Pina, Asisat Oshoala and defender Lucy Bronze respectively.

Hansen’s sensational comeback was marked by scoring just five minutes after her introduction in a sublime fashion, skipping past defenders and wrong footing the goalkeeper after receiving a pass from Bonmatí and slotting home.

The two players combined again with six minutes left to play when Hansen scored her second goal of the day to make it 4-0 to the hosts.

Capping her performance, Hansen completed her hat-trick on the stroke of full time with a magnificent run and finish after receiving a pass from Torrejón.

The victory took them to 60 points and maintained their five point lead at the top whilst Villarreal remained a point above relegation zone with 15 points after 20 matches.

Levante shrugged off an early set back to win 4-2 against hosts Sevilla at the Ramón Cisneros Palacios on Sunday afternoon to boost their top three bid.

The hosts took a first minute lead through forward Cristina Martín-Prieto which spurred the visitors to fight back and levelled the scores four minutes later through forward Érika González after being set up by midfielder Tatiana Pinto.

Pinto gave her side the lead five minutes later with a headed goal when she finished a corner from forward Nataša Andonova.

The visitors doubled their goal advantage two minutes into added time of the first half when Pinto scored her second goal of the match after she finished a cross from Andonova.

Sevilla made a triple change in the 65th minute bringing on midfielders Ana Franco, Diana Gomes and forward Jessica Martínez for midfielder Inma Gabarro, defender Nagore Calderón and midfielder Amanda Sampedro respectively.

However, González went on to complete her brace, making it 4-1 in the 66th minute to give her side a comfortable lead.

The hosts reduced the goal deficit with eight minutes left to play when defender Silvia Meseguer converted a pass from substitute Jessica Martínez to make it 4-2.

The win took Levante to 50 points and maintained their third position and the 11 points gap between them and fourth placed Atlético Madrid whilst Sevilla remained seventh with 26 points.

Valencia continued with their fine run with a 2-1 victory over visiting UDG Tenerife at the Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors took a fortuitous 41st minute lead after a cross from forward María José Pérez González accidentally hit midfielder Marta Carro, beating her own goalkeeper in the process.

The visitors were reduced to 10 players on the hour mark when defender Thaís was shown a straight red card which immediately transferred the advantage to the hosts who equalised two minutes later through forward Anita Marcos.

Tenerife tried to counter the hosts’ pressure by bringing on defender Andrea Marrero Avero for midfielder Gift Monday in the 66th minute but Anita Marcos gave the hosts the lead in the 72nd minute off a pass from defender Bea Beltrán.

The win took Valencia’s points tally to 30 whilst Tenerife remained on 21 points and not entirely safe from relegation as they are only seven points from the relegation zone.

Fifth-placed Madrid CFF showed they have not thrown in the towel in the fight for a top three finish with a convincing 5-1 demolition of visiting Alavés at the Estadio Fernando Torres on Saturday afternoon.

The hosts found themselves behind after 28 minutes when forward Sanadri gave the visitors the lead off a pass from defender Osinachi Ohale.

Forward Racheal Kundananji levelled the scores in the first minute of added time of the first half before midfielder Ana González gave the hosts the lead for the first in the match, making it 2-1 in the 56th minute.

The hosts doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute through defender Lauren after being set up by substitute midfielder Karen Araya. Araya was in the thick of things again in the 85th minute, laying a beautiful pass to Kundananji for her second goal of the match. Substitute forward Lucía Pardo wrapped up the scores in the first minute of added time after she converted a pass from midfielder Estela Fernández.

The win moved the hosts to 36 points whilst the defeat was a bitter pill for Alavés in their relegation fight.

Elsewhere, Atlético Madrid came out tops with a 2-1 victory over hosts Real Sociedad in a tightly contested match at the Instalaciones de Zubieta on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors took a sixth minute lead through Nigerian forward Rasheedat Ajibade off a pass from midfielder Marta Cardona.

The hosts responded three minutes later when forward Amaiur Sarriegi levelled the scores off a pass from forward Sanni Franssi.

Ajibade completed her brace two minutes into the second half, restoring Atlético’s lead after receiving a well placed pass from midfielder Hanna Ester Lundkvist.

The win took the visitors points tally to 39 and maintained their fourth place whilst Sociedad’s top three hopes were put to ashes as they are now 21 points behind third-placed Levante.

Sporting Huelva blew a two-goal lead in a 3-2 defeat at the hands of visiting Athletic Club at the Campo del CD Lamiya on Saturday afternoon.

Huelva took a quick two-goal lead after opening the scoring in the second minute through midfielder Elsa Amanda Edgren and forward Stefanie da Eira five minutes later. Both goals were assisted by midfielder Bárbara López Gorrado.

Midfielder Clara Pinedo reduced the goal deficit for the visitors in the 26th minute when.

A minute into added time of the first half saw midfielder Paula Arana level the scores for the visitors off a Yulema Corres assist. They went on to take the lead in the 58th minute through Corres off a pass from defender Nerea Nevado and the goal sealed the points for Athletic Club.

The win moved the visitors three points clear of the hosts to 20 points and gave them breathing space above the relegation zone.

Real Betis continued with their poor run when they conceded late to surrender their lead in a two-all draw with hosts Levante Las Planas at the Camp Municipal Les Planes on Sunday evening.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 13th minute through midfielder Irina Uribe after being set up by midfielder Yang Lina. Forward Rinsola Babajide restored parity for Betis eight minutes later off a pass from forward Violeta García Quiles.

Midfielder Ángela Sosa gave the visitors the lead for the first time on the half hour mark off a pass from midfielder Grace Asantewaa.

The hosts scored six minutes from full-time when experienced forward Mari Paz pounced on a pass from Irina Uribe to level the scores.

The draw left Betis just a point above relegation zone whilst the hosts are three points above relegation zone with 17 points.

Results (Saturday): Sporting Huelva 2-3 Athletic Club; Real Sociedad 1-2 Atlético Madrid; Madrid CFF 5-1 Alavés; Valencia 2-1 UDG Tenerife; Alhama CF ElPozo 1-5 Real Madrid.

Results (Sunday): Barcelona 5-0 Villarreal; Sevilla 2-4 Levante; Levante Las Planas 2-2 Real Betis.