Immediate Reaction: Real Madrid Femenino 2-1 Valencia

Real Madrid Femenino defeated Valencia 2-1 in the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, picking up a crucial three points. Esther scored her first two goals for Las Blancas in the win.

Las Blancas were able to dominate possession from the back but struggled to create sustained goal-mouth pressure. They resorted to playing it wide and direct. Valencia did the same but saw much less of the ball. Real Madrid were able to open the scoring in the 11th minute. Claudia Zornoza played a killer through ball into stride for Esther Gonzalez. The former Levante striker made no mistake and scored her first Real Madrid goal. The skies opened up and the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano was flooded with rain but that didn’t stop Esther and Zornoza from combining again. Zornoza lofted a free kick into the box. Esther brought it down expertly and fired a half-volley into the back of the net to double Las Blancas’ lead.

The second half got off to a slow start but the match quickly became chaotic after Valencia halved Las Blancas’ lead through Oriana Altuve in the 68th minute. The game became much more transitional with Las Che pushing for an equalizer and Las Blancas searching for a goal that would put the match to bed. Valencia looked more likely to find the game’s next goal but neither team were able to find another goal. Real Madrid held on to win the match 2-1.

• 3’ Olga Carmona went down after a bad challenge. She was eventually able to walk it off and continue.
• 11’ Claudia Zornoza played a brilliant line-breaking ball through the Valencia defense to the feet of Esther. The forward fired her shot into the back of the net, scoring her first official goal for Real Madrid.

• 14’ Maite Oroz took a free kick short to Kenti Robles, who shot from distance. It was saved easily.
• 26’ Valencia won the ball off Maite Oroz in their final third and launched from distance. Meline Gerard caught it with ease.
• 34’ Valencia countered again after a Las Blancas attack. Gerard caught the shot.
• 35’ Zornoza and Maite Oroz combined on the top of the box and Oroz slid a through pass toward goal. Nahikari Garcia collided with the keeper in an effort to get a touch but it was whistled a foul.
• 38’ Zornoza flighted a free kick into the area which Esther brought down. She then turned and fired the shot into the back of the net to double her tally and Las Blancas’ lead.

• 39’ Olga almost made it three one minute later. Kenti Robles lofted a cross to the back post and Olga headed it wide of the goal.
• Real Madrid started the second half on the front foot but Valencia was able to find space going forward as time wore on. Las Che weren’t able to create clear-cut chances but there was space to exploit.
• 62’ Teresa made her return from injury in the 62nd minute when she replaced Lorena Navarro.
• 67’ Nahikari made a run to the front post to head a flighted corner kick but couldn’t flick it on target.
• 68’ Gerard tipped a Valencia shot off the crossbar. It fell to a Valencia attacker, who had her shot blocked and then saved but the ball fell to Oriana Altuve in the six-yard box and she tapped it in to make it 2-1.
• 71’ Teresa lined up a left-footed strike from distance that she pulled just wide of the goalkeeper’s far post.
• 83’ Nahikari and Olga were replaced by Marta Corredera and Caroline Moller Hansen to try and see out the result.
• 88’ Altuve nearly equalized. She slid to try and meet a cross but wasn’t able to get a touch to redirect the ball toward goal. Valencia dominated in the closing stages of the match but were unable to find the game-tying goal.
• 90+4’ Zornoza swung a cross into the box and Babett Peter fired a header toward goal. The Valencia keeper made a great reaction save. Peter’s chance was the last of the match and Las Blancas secured a much-needed three points.

Real Madrid Femenino are back in action next weekend. Las Blancas host Rayo Vallecano in the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.