Player Ratings: Real Madrid Femenino 1 - 2 Levante UD

Real Madrid Femenino were much the better side against Levante in the first half, but they were only able to convert one of their chances. The match became much more transitional in the second period of play and became even more chaotic after Levante scored through Esther on a counter-attack. With practically the last kick of the hame, Levante countered again and Alba Redondo scored to give the Valencian squad a 2-1 win.

Player Ratings

Misa — 6.5/10: Misa was beaten twice in the match but wasn’t at fault for either goal. She came off her line quickly to prevent Esther a 1v1 opportunity and made quite a few straightforward saves.

Kenti Robles — 6.5/10: Kenti Robles was very good for 90 minutes. She bombed up and down the right flank, defending well and creating in the final third. She linked well with Marta Cardona and provided the assist to Kaci. But, in the final minutes of the match, Robles was caught upfield and couldn’t get back in time, allowing Redondo to get in behind for the winner.

Ivana Andrés — 7/10: Ivana was solid throughout the match. She dictated from the back and cut out Levante attacks repeatedly. She was forced to cover for Corredera who was caught out on the first goal. Ivana was unable to stop the cross.

Claudia Florentino — 5.5/10: Florentino had a mixed match. She did well in the first half to limit Esther’s space, but she was caught out of position throughout the second half. Her aerial defending on the first goal was not good and she was unable to prevent Redondo from getting the ball on the second goal.

Marta Corredera — 4.5/10: Corredera was targeted to start the match. Levante constantly went at her down the left. She recovered well and was stepping up, defending, pressing, and passing well. In the second half, she struggled. She gave the ball away and was caught out of position on the first goal and coughed up possession before Levante scored the winner.

Aurélie Kaci — 7/10: Kaci was the best player on the pitch in the first half. She was everywhere offensively and defensively. She also scored Real Madrid’s only goal of the match. Kaci was not as effective in the second as the transitional, chaotic game stifled Las Blancas’ midfield success. She was beaten too easily in the build-up to the Levante winner.

Teresa Abelleira — 6.5/10: Teresa helped initiate Real Madrid’s press which helped to disrupt Levante in the first half and worked with Maite Oroz to control the match. Teresa popped up in dangerous positions in the final third. She was also one of the few Real Madrid players who didn’t resort to bombing long balls to the wing in the second half. She missed a great opportunity to give Las Blancas a 2-1 lead after Jessica Martínez’s header bounced off the post.

Maite Oroz — 6.5/10: Maite Oroz started slowly but soon found her rhythm, allowing Real Madrid to take over the match. She played cross-field switches and line-breaking passes that made Las Blancas’ offense tick and created the best opportunity in the second half, delivering a pinpoint cross onto the head of Jessica.

Sofia Jakobsson — 5.5/10: This was another Jakobsson performance where she drifted in and out of the match. She started taking players on in the 20th minute and grew into proceedings as the team did. At the end of the half, she played a perfect cross to Cardona, who should have made it 2-0. Jakobsson wasn’t really involved until the final ten minutes of the second half.

Marta Cardona — 6.5/10: Cardona pulled off a stunning pre-assist backheel pass to Robles. After that, Cardona took over the first forty-five minutes and looked the most likely to double the lead. Though Cardona missed a big chance to make it 2-0, she still looked like Las Blancas’ only hope of getting a goal in the second period of play.

Jessica Martínez — 5.5/10: Jessica was put in a difficult position. Throughout the match she was isolated and only got touches from dropping deep and trying to hold up play. She was fouled repeatedly but her touch also let her down a number of times. Martínez got one look at goal and her header bounced off of the post.

Substitutes:

Thaisa — 6.5/10: Thaisa came on for Teresa in the 76th minute and formed a double pivot with Kaci. She did well defensively and showed her quality on the ball via penetrative and cross-field passes.

Kosovare Asllani — 6/10: Asllani came on for Maite Oroz in the 76th minute. She helped the team find Cardona and Jakobsson in semi-transition. However, her set-piece service was not good, as it was often met by the fists of the goalkeeper.