Real Madrid defeated Granada with the result 3-1 on matchday 14 of Liga F. Below are my thoughts and views on the match.
Misa started on goal. Without any available left backs in the squad, Oihane took the LB spot while Shei started on RB. Méndez and Lakrar once again made up the CB duo. It was a 4-2-3-1 with Leupolz and Toletti as the pivot duo, with Caroline Weir being a part of the front four with Linda and Athenea on wings, with Signe Bruun leading the line.
There were some odd experiments from the start of the game. First, there was a hint of Leupolz dropping back to a back-3 for a build-up on the left side through Oihane. However, that hint of an action ended quickly when Granada shut down Oihane on the touchline. After that, there were some attempts by both Shei and Athenea to move with the ball to the left-hand side and join Oihane and Caicedo there while leaving the right-hand side essentially naked for the individual actions.
Granada definitely used the lack of organization Las Blancas had on the wide areas, especially on the left-hand side. They would draw the white team out wide to then send a long ball from behind to either Edna Imade or Laura Pérez. Madrid’s left side was shut down well by the Andaluz team
- 15’: GOAL (1-0) by Maëlle Lakrar: a corner taken by Leupolz sent to the near post, wen
- 27’: GOAL (1-1) by Edna Imade: a clearance attempt from Granada’s corner followed by a commotion in front of the penalty area for Mingueza to get the ball to Edna Imade. The striker was onside and only had to beat Misa to finish the action as she did. A deserved equalizer for Granada.
There were no changes on either side at halftime. The second half went much better than the first half. In terms of chances and occasions on goal, at least. It took a little while for Las Blancas to start shooting freely at the goal, but once they did, every time was a close one – either hitting the woodwork or missing the target by a few inches.
The first change, in 60’, where Angeldahl and Redondo replaced Athenea and Toletti, gave that atmosphere of fresh legs that Real Madrid needed so badly, especially on the left-hand side. The winner was scored only a minute after the substitution was made. In the continuation of the game, there could be seen some combination on the left between Angeldahl and Linda with Redondo in the box, which also took the pressure off Oihane that Granada previously had and made her move more freely at the back. She didn’t go up to attack, but it wasn’t needed.
- 61’: GOAL (2-1) by Signe Bruun: a pass by Leupolz to Linda Caicedo opened up the action where the Colombian went on a run into the box where she passed it to the side to Bruun in front of the goal.
- 90+4’: GOAL (3-1) by Eva Navarro: Oihane carried the ball into the box where she got surrounded by 3 players. The ball then found Navarro who shot from the edge of the box and put it in for 3-1.
Frustrating 3 points but 3 points nevertheless. The third game of the year, and the third win.
