Real Madrid won the first match of the season against Espanyol with a result of 0-5. Below are my thoughts and views on the match.
Misa started on goal. The fullbacks were Oihane and Olga, who debuted as Real Madrid’s first captain. Méndez and Lakrar made up the brand-new CB pairing. Caroline Weir was back in the starting lineup and played alongside the new signings Angeldahl and Leupolz. Alba Redondo led the attack with Athenea on the LW and Navarro on RW.
The game was quite straightforward and went in Real Madrid’s favor throughout the entire 90 minutes as the possession was kept at 35%-65% as well.
Some interesting combinations were happening between the players. On the right-hand side, Oihane and Navarro had a lot of mutual understanding whenever they would have to combine on the sidelines to move the ball up quickly.
Angeldahl was the one in charge of recoveries while Leupolz would come in to send the ball forward towards Weir operating more at the forward line.
Athenea’s dribbles returned as she was seen combining with Weir a lot at the entrance of Espanyol’s penalty area and sending crosses toward Alba Redondo.
The incorporation of Shei in the second half, who got on for Navarro
Regarding the defending, Las Blancas didn’t have many instances in which they had to pull back. The only real danger Espanyol showed was through their right winger, Arola Aparicio, who challenged Olga Carmona time and time again with her quick and explosive run-ins.
The first goal came in the 13th minute when the debutant María Méndez scored a header chipping it over the goalkeeper. The ball came from the freekick taken by Weir.
The next two goals were scored by Caroline Weir with which she already has a tally of 3 G/A after just one matchday. The goal for 0-2 came in the 24th minute from Eva Navarro whose cross deflected off an Espanyol defender and landed near Weir for her to kick the ball in.
In the 56th minute, Weir scored her second goal of the match assisted by Athenea. At this point, all three goals until 0-3 had the Scot’s direct involvement.
The fourth goal of the match was scored by the assistant of the previous one – Athenea. Her goal came from Oihane’s cross after a long carry on the right-hand side. Athenea was positioned well in the box to receive the cross and send the ball into the net in 58’.
Oihane grabbed a non-official assist in the fifth goal of the match. She sent a long cross, starting from near the right corner flag. The ball bounced off the ground inside the box and Maite was there to receive it and score the fifth in the 84th minute.
Las Blancas grabbed the first three points of the season in a spectacular matter by scoring 5 and keeping a clean sheet. Great start to the new season!
