Real Madrid Femenino bounced back from midweek disappointment to convincingly defeat RCD Espanyol 3-0 at the Estadio Alfredo di Stéfano on Matchday 19 of the Liga F season.
Pau Quesada’s side were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing on Thursday night at home to Barcelona, in the quarter-finals of the Copa de la Reina, but bounced back emphatically here to record their third successive league victory.
Signe Bruun got her side off to the perfect start, converting inside the opening six minutes to score her second goal in as many leagues games, having also bagged in Madrid’s 4-2 win over RC Deportivo de la Coruña last weekend.
Twelve minutes later, Athenea del Castillo doubled the lead, firing home from close range after Espanyol goalkeeper Romane Salvador had done well initially to push away a Filippa Angeldahl strike.
Sara Holmgaard made sure of the three points shortly before the hour mark, finding the net in the league for only the second time this season and ensuring a comfortable final half-hour for Madrid supporters inside the di Stéfano.
Espanyol, in truth, never really troubled the home side, failing to register a shot on target across the 90 minutes as they suffered their eighth consecutive loss against Madrid. Sara Monforte’s side have subsequently slipped down to 12th position in the league standings, although they still remain 11 points clear of the relegation places.
Madrid, meanwhile, have now triumphed in eight of their nine league games at home so far this season, and remain in 2nd position, 10 points behind league leaders Barcelona but three clear of 3rd-placed Real Sociedad. Their attention now turns to European competition, where they travel to Paris FC for the first leg of their round-of-16 tie in the UEFA Women’s Champions League tie on Wednesday night.
Here are some of the best shots that I managed to capture from the match…
Referee: Beatriz Cuesta Arribas
Real Madrid Lineup: Misa; García, Gálvez, Andersson, Holmgaard; Angeldahl (subbed for Weir, 61'), Dorado, Toletti (subbed for Bennison, 67'); Athenea (subbed for Eva Navarro, 46'), Bruun (subbed for Alba Redondo, 61'), Comendador (subbed for Caicedo, 61')
Espanyol Lineup: Salvador; Domenech (subbed for Ballesté, 31'), Botero, Vallejo, Caracas (subbed for Martínez, 57'); Ainoa Franco (subbed for Torrás, 46'), Ricart; Baradad, García (subbed for Garrido, 69'), Baudet (subbed for Arana, 70'); Browne