May 21(THEWILL) – Barcelona Women’s team concluded their league campaign with a 2-1 loss against Madrid CFF, ending their hopes of going unbeaten for the second straight season.
On a more positive note for the champions, the match saw the return of Alexia Putellas from injury, who scored her first goal since her comeback. Madrid CFF started the game with determination, showcasing their attacking prowess as the fourth highest scorers in the league this season. Barcelona struggled to find their footing early on, with goalkeeper Sandra Paños making crucial saves to keep the opposition at bay.
Although Geyse had an early chance for the Blaugranes, it was Madrid who broke the deadlock with Kundananji’s pace capitalising on a long ball, putting the home side in the lead after 30 minutes. Barcelona turned up the pressure but Paola, the Madrid goalkeeper, preserved their lead with impressive saves. Then, Kundananji struck again just before half-time, extending Madrid’s lead to 2-0 with a well-placed finish at the near post.
Barca’s Paralluelo, who had come in for Asisat Oshoala who was feeling some discomfort, had a goal disallowed for offside, and it was not until Alexia Putellas came on in the second half that Barcelona found the net. Putellas, the team captain, displayed her goal-scoring instinct after a lengthy absence, reducing the deficit to 2-1 in the 63rd minute.
However, her claims for a penalty were denied as Barcelona suffered their first league defeat since July 1, 2021. Now, attention turns to the UEFA Champions League final against Wolfsburg in Eindhoven for Jonatan Giráldez’s team.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
