Liga F round up: Barcelona and Real Madrid dominate, six teams’ struggles continue

Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of six clubs who have started the Liga F season with back-to-back victories. The reigning champions dispatched Real Sociedad on matchday two, while Real Madrid got the better of Real Betis.

In addition to those two matches, we have recapped the other six games that took place on the second matchday of the new Liga F season.

Barcelona 3-1 Real Sociedad

Caroline Graham Hansen tapped the ball home from Keira Walsh’s low cross to get Barcelona up and running. Just four minutes later, the Norwegian added to her and Barça’s second, curling a low free-kick past Elene Lete. The Real Sociedad goalkeeper then gave away a penalty in the opening stages of the second half. Alexia Putellas, who Lete fouled, stepped up to slot Barcelona into a three-goal lead. Lucía Pardo took full advantage of a Cata Coll mistake to pull a goal back, but the hosts ultimately saw out the remainder of the contest to clinch a comfortable victory.

Costa Adeje Tenerife 4-1 Sevilla

Tenerife produced a dominant display to clinch their first win of the season. Gift Monday opened the scoring, before Rinsola Babajide caught Esther Sullastres out of position to fire an audacious long-range effort in at the near post. Monday then headed in her second and Tenerife’s third goal to give the hosts an unassailable half-time lead.

Bicho piled the misery on Sevilla in the second half, pouncing on a loose ball to slot home her first goal for Tenerife. Nazareth Martín pulled a goal back for the visitors, but it did little to dampen the mood at Football Field Adeje as the home faithful celebrated a comfortable victory.

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Real Betis 0-3 Real Madrid

Signe Bruun required just 10 minutes to give Real Madrid an early Liga F lead in Andalusia. Bruun then added a second when she reacted quickest to fire home the rebound after Olga Carmona saw her penalty saved. Sandi Toletti effectively wrapped up the three points before the break, pouncing on Paula Vizoso’s parry to fire into the awaiting net.

Having won their opening two games by a combined 8-0 scoreline, Real Madrid are the early leaders in Liga F and one of two teams yet to concede a goal this season.

Levante Badalona 2-0 Levante

Levante Badalona claimed their first competitive win under their new name. Ghizlane Chebbak poked the ball home from close range to give the hosts a narrow half-time lead. The hosts kept Levante at bay until they made sure of the victory with a second goal in the 87th minute. Irina Uribe pounced onto a loose pass and skipped past Teresa Mérida and goalkeeper Emma Holmgren before she rolled the ball into an empty net. Levante have now lost their opening two games without troubling the scorers.

Madrid CFF 2-1 Espanyol

Madrid CFF came from behind to claim all three points against newly-promoted Espanyol. The game remained goalless until Ainoa Campo headed Espanyol into the lead just after the hour mark.

Madrid CFF’s Kamilla Melgård kickstarted the turnaround when she rounded the goalkeeper to slot into the awaiting net. Melgård’s fellow summer addition Bárbara López proved to be the hero, netting an 89th minute winner to score her first Madrid CFF goal and snatch all three points for her new side.

Athletic Club 2-1 Granada

Granada fell to a narrow defeat in their trip to the Basque country despite establishing an early lead. Laura Requena guided the ball home after Edna Imade saw her initial effort saved. Nahikari García restored parity on the 30-minute mark, steering the ball into the bottom corner from Nerea Nevado’s low cross.

After providing an assist, Nevado went on to score a dramatic winner in the 89th minute. The 23-year-old’s inswinging cross from the right flank evaded everyone in the box before it nestled in the far corner. Athletic celebrated a second straight victory, while Granada have started the campaign with consecutive defeats.

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Atlético Madrid 2-1 Deportivo de la Coruña

Summer signing Lauren Leal proved to be an unlikely match-winner in Atlético’s home clash against newly-promoted Dépor. The defender pounced on a mistake from Inês Pereira to open the scoring in the 23rd minute. The Brazilian then guided the ball home from a knockdown to give Atleti a two-goal cushion at the break.

Ana de Teresa pulled a goal back in the second period, but Dépor were unable to find the elusive equaliser. As a result, Atleti celebrated a win which extended their unbeaten Liga F run to nine matches.

Eibar 2-0 Valencia

Eibar required just five minutes to take the lead in Sunday’s home clash with Valencia. Elba Vergés collected the ball in the box before she swivelled and drove a low strike off the far post. Aida Esteve thought she had restored parity in the second half, only to see her header ruled out for offside. Valencia’s hopes of salvaging a point were quashed in the 82nd minute when Margherita Monnecchi curled the ball into the top corner.

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