Real Madrid Femenino bounced back emphatically from their loss to FC Barcelona against Valencia. Las Blancas looked the better team throughout the match but were unable to capitalize in the first half. Kosovare Asllani changed that. She scored in the 67th, 68th, and 70th minutes to net the first hat-trick in Real Madrid Femenino history. Valencia got one back from Ellen Jansen.

Player Ratings:

Yohana — 6/10: Yohana got her first start from Las Blancas this season. She was filling in for the suspended Misa. Yohana was relatively unbothered. Jansen put one by her but it was a difficult 1v1 situation.

Kenti Robles — 7.5/10: Robles was a consistent threat from right back. She bombed up the pitch and would drive to the endline or into midfield. Robles made some quality crosses but plenty of them were overhit. She was also great defensively.

Ivana Andrés — 7/10: Ivana was solid on both sides of the ball. She drove into midfield and used her passing range to lead attackers into space. Ivana almost opened the scoring with a quick turn and shot that rattled the bar.

Babett Peter — 7/10: Peter has been extremely consistent defensively throughout the campaign and today was no different. She provides quality defensive cover all over the pitch. Peter also made a crucial intervention in the 18th minute to break up a dangerous counter attack.

Marta Corredera — 6/10: Early in the match Corredera made some good passes that allowed Madrid’s attackers to get the ball in dangerous positions. She was good defensively and was calm in possession when they went her way.

Thaisa — 7/10: Thaisa served as the single pivot just like she did against Barcelona. She recuperated the ball well and used quick touches to free herself from Valencia’s pressure. Thaisa made some great passes but also forced passes and turned the ball over too easily at times.

Maite Oroz — 8/10: Maite Oroz was in a kind of free number 10 role, where she was tasked with going all over the pitch to find the match and make things happen. Oroz was everywhere and everything ran through her. She was close to opening the scoring with a nice shot and a few defense-splitting passes. She was replaced by Olga Carmona in the 63rd minute.

Kaci — 7.5/10: It took Kaci some time to get involved in the match. As the first half progressed, she found her feet. Kaci recovered possession well and helped launch attacks from midfield. She drifted from side to side to link up with Oroz and create overloads that helped Las Blancas create opportunities.

Teresa — 6/10: Teresa had a bit of a different role on the day than her normal midfield role. She was tighter to the left touchline and linked with Corredera to provide Las Blancas width on the left. Teresa popped up in dangerous positions but her touch let her down a few times. She had a shot hit off the post in the first half and later was replaced in the 63rd minute.

Marta Cardona — 7.5/10: Cardona struggled to get involved in the first half. Las Blancas saw her start to become more influential at the 30 minute mark. Cardona was much better in the second half, as she had more space to operate in, allowing her to cause Valencia all kinds of trouble. Cardona provided the assist for the third goal.

Kosovare Asllani — 10/10: Like Cardona, Asllani was relatively uninvolved in the first half, though she did poke home a rebound that was wrongly disallowed. Asllani set the match on fire and took over in the second half. Real Madrid was in need of a goal and Asllani responded with three in four minutes, netting the first hat-trick in Las Blancas’ history.

Substitutions:

Olga Carmona — 7/10: Carmona came on and made an instant impact. She ran at defenders and created problems for the Valencia defense. Carmona also won the free kick that led to Las Blancas’ first goal.

Lorena Navarro — 6.5/10: Lorena came on at the same time as Carmona. She operated as a forward alongside Asllani before moving to the left when Jessica came on for Kenti. She was good in possession and moved the attack forward in a period of the match that was very transitional.

Jessica Martínez — N/A: Jessica came on late for Kenti Robles. She wasn’t very involved in the little time she was on the pitch.

Malena Ortíz Cruz — N/A: Malena made her season debut in the 88th minute of the match.