FC Barcelona v RCD Espanyol: Derby won and trophy lifted

[[DES_1]] RCD Espanyol welcomed the Liga champions onto the field with a guard of honour and then the Barça women were presented with the trophy before settling down and playing a superb derby that was decided by three goals in the first 45 minutes.

It took just five minutes for Alexia to get them off the mark, pouncing on the rebound after Mariona’s shot was intercepted by a defender. Playing composed football, the home side continued to dominate against their local rivals, and when Virginia was brought down on the edge of the area, the tournament’s top scorer, Sonia, stepped up to stick the free kick home.

Espanyol pushed hard to get back in the game, but were beaten again in the final play of the half, another goal from a free kick, this time by Mariona.

Xavi Llorens’ side looked to stretch their lead after the break, with Melanie and Willy both hitting the crossbar and Espanyol keeper Paula producing some fine saves. .

The 3-0 win brings an end to the league season for the women’s team, who finish with 25 wins, two draws and just three defeats, having scored 93 goals and conceded just nine.  Attention now turns to the cup, and a quarter final with Levante on May 10.

Trophy presentation

Before the match, the president of the Catalan Federation, Albert Montull, presented captains Marta Unzué and Laura Ràfols with the league trophy. Barcelona have become the first team to ever win the national title four times in a row, and also join Athletic Bilbao and Levante as the club with the most Superliga wins, four each.