Levante Las Planas 2-4 Barça: Blaugrana win in derby
A Catalan derby win for Barça away to Levante Las Planas (2-4), with all six goals coming in the first half. Claudia Pina starred with a brace, plus involvement in the third goal. The brace also brings up her 50th goal in her career, a tremendous record for a 22-year-old forward.
The home side went ahead twice, but Barça can take heart from their comeback with the big Champions League return leg up next at Stamford Bridge this Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm CEST).
Levante strike first
The home side struck first within the first ten minutes after an even start to the game, Irina with a long pass to Allegra Poljak who finished low through Paños' legs (1-0).
No real time for celebration though, as a great cross from the right from Bronze saw as Claudia Pina quickly score the equaliser after Cáceres saved her initial effort (1-1).
Second for the home side
The second for the home side saw the roles reversed from the first goal, Allegra with a long pass from deep through the blaugrana backline, putting Irina clean through to finish and make it 2-1 to Levante.
Claudia Pina equalises again
Barça's second goal again came from the wings, Bruna Vilamala with the assist from the left, that Pina controlled superbly before firing past Cáceres (2-2, min. 30). Pina was having a great game and even showed some backheel skill shortly after to get in behind the Levante defence.
Barça banish the doubts
Jonatan Giráldez' side got their noses in front four minutes before the break, Claudia Pina with the corner, Bronze flicking on and Torrejón finishing at the far post (2-3) in what was a great bit of training ground play.
What would prove to be the final goal came in added time in the first half and again from the wings. Alexia and Lucía Corrales combined for the latter to cross for Bruna Vilamala to head in under pressure and make it 2-4 (min. 46) and also the half-time score.
No goals in the second half but Barça dominated and coach Giráldez made further changes to the side, having already started 11 different players from the WCL game against Chelsea. All in all, another good LaLiga win and closer to the title, but all important trip to London is now the focus.
MATCH STATS
Levante Las Planas 2.
Barça 4.
Levante Las Planas: Nayluisa Cáceres; Allegra Poljak, Berta Bou, Yasmin Mirabet (Nerea Carmona, min. 79), Morgane Nicoli, Julia Mora; Laura Martínez (Bárbara Latorre, min. 67), Dominika Conc (Martina Rojo, min. 88), Ghizlane Chebbak (Anissa Lahmari, min. 67), Melanie Serrano; Irina Uribe.
Barça: Sandra Paños; Lucy Bronze (Martina Fernández, min. 46), Marta Torrejón, Jana Fernández, Lucía Corrales (Keira Walsh, min. 46); Vicky López (Ariana Arias, min. 60), Julia Bartel, Alexia Putellas (Ona Batlle, min. 46); Bruna Vilamala, Esmee Brugts, Clàudia Pina (Mariona Caldentey, min. 60).
Goals: 1-0, Allegra Poljak (min. 10); 1-1, Clàudia Pina (min. 12); 2-1, Irina Uribe (min. 19); 2-2, Clàudia Pina (min. 30); 2-3, Marta Torrejón (min. 34); 2-4, Bruna Vilamala (min. 46).
Referees: Beatriz Cuesta, Lorena Novas, Maria Miralles and Sara Fernández.