The hell that the Stockholm Arena promised in Sweden went out even before the game started. Not only because the temperature on the grass was higher than Stockholm’s minus six degrees thanks to the stadium’s retractable roof. Nor for the thousands and thousands of Swedish spectators who came to enjoy Hammarby and who found themselves defeated. There was no fire or fire in a Barcelona that controlled the match, scored three goals – a double from Ewa Pajor and a goal from Aitana Bonmatí – and mathematically sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Pere Romeu’s team, with its homework done, soon lowered the revs, showing a less hungry version of the team, but equally solvent in terms of results.
0
Anna Tamminen, Stina Lennartsson, Eva Nyström, Jonna Andersson (Ellen Gibson, min. 87), Alice Carlsson, Julie Blakstad, Ellen Wangerheim, Emilie Joramo, Smilla Vallotto (Thea Sørbo, min. 64), Anna Jøsendal (Smilla Holmberg, min. . 75) and Cathinka Tandberg (Emma Westin, min. 64)
3
Cata Coll, Mapi León, Irene Paredes, Fridolina Rolfö (Salma Paralluelo, min. 80), Ona Batlle, Patri Guijarro (Marta Torrejón, min. 81), Aitana Bonmatí, Clàudia Pina (Ingrid Engen, min. 67), Caroline Hansen , Esmee Brugts (Kika Nazareth, min. 66) and Ewa Pajor
Goals
0-1 min. 6: Ewa Pajor. 0-2 min. 39: Ewa Pajor. 0-3 min. 79: Aitana Bonmatí
Referee Katalin Kulcsár
yellow cards
Patri Guijarro (min. 2)
The first spark did not take long to appear. And that, despite the fact that Barcelona recovered Kika Nazareth and Salma Paralluelo for Sweden, they lost Keira Walsh, Vicky López and Alexia Putellas, the latter having a great impact in the final third, both in assists and goals. The person in charge of replacing her was Claudia Pina who, from the left, went inside so that Pajor could score the first goal in the seventh minute. Afterwards, Barcelona’s pace dropped, perhaps with some discomfort for the Blaugranas against a Hammarby that blocked all the passes inside, although with control of the game in their pocket and the patience and security of being able to remedy their inaccuracies.
The Swedes, with more will than success, timidly arrived at Cata Coll’s goal, going on the counter with weakness and facing a team that was retreating. Pajor, once again, brought out the little fire that was lit in the area: she took advantage of a corner placed by Mapi León – an expert in set pieces – to score the second and reach the break more calmly. So much so that Barcelona, a team that loves victories, only scored one more thanks to Aitana Bonmatí after a great pass from Kika Nazareth, which gave the freshness that the team needed. With the match decided, Salma Paralluelo was able to debut for the first time this season after following a readaptation program. But the good news was soon counteracted: Graham Hansen had to leave the pitch accompanied by medical assistance amidst uncertainty.
The last assault in the Champions group stage will take place at the Estadi Lluís Companys in Montjuïc, where the Blaugranas will face off again against Manchester City, whom they could not defeat in the first leg. Barça, at home, will have a clear objective: to seal the group as leaders.
