Recap & Highlights: Real Madrid Femenino 3-1 Sporting CP; UEFA Women’s Champions League

Real Madrid won 3-1 against Sporting Club de Portugal in the 2nd leg of UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers round 2. Below are my thoughts and views on the match.

Grid View

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  Real Madrid XI
  
  

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  Sporting CP XI
  
  

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  Substitutes
  
  

This was how Alberto Toril lined up the team. Misa on goal. Lakrar and Méndez as the CB duo along with Oihane and Olga as fullbacks made up the defense. Leupolz and Toletti as the pivot duo in the midfield. Feller and Athenea on the wings accompanying Bruun in attack, with Weir operating behind the striker. The standard 4-2-3-1 formation Toril uses.

The first half was characterized by Sporting’s press, led by Brittany, and unnecessary complications in attack by Las Blancas. In the very first minute, Brittany stole the ball from Lakrar, which was recovered quickly, but it showed the beginning of Madrid’s problems with Sporting’s press. Méndez lost the ball in 14’ against Brittany which resulted in a dangerous chance for Sporting. Luckily Lakrar and Misa were both on the near post to block the shot.

The first seven minutes were full of Sporting’s attacks, including their goal in 5’ from a freekick. The very first chance by the hosts ended in a goal finished by Toletti. A few continuous chances by the white club followed immediately after the goal for 1-1 but didn’t menage to overturn the result until the halftime whistle.

When it came to Real’s attack, the incoming passes and crosses would often be late. Especially when Feller would lead the action and kept the ball to herself for too long. Both Athenea and Feller would be late in taking a shot because of the longer time they took to make decisions.

Shei got on for Oihane at halftime. The second half had fewer complications, even though the attacks were still messy. With Eva Navarro getting on in 55’ for Naomie Feller, the attacks were going much faster, especially in counterattacks with Athenea and Navarro. The two are a perfect duo to perform the counters.

Leupolz and Shei were seen interacting on the right flank breaking Sporting’s press. Shei would escape with the ball and do a cross into the box. An example of this was in 50’, a minute before the scoreboard changed to 2-1.

With Eva on, aside from having the possibility of a quick counterattack, she was also sending crosses and even receiving one from Olga to go 1-on-1 against Seabert in 67’. With Mariana Cabral, Sporting’s manager, subbing off Brittany in 59’ brought down their press that was very prominent in the first half.

Angeldahl and Redondo came on for Weir and Bruun and they took their respective positions. Ageldahl operated as a #10 for the last 12 minutes of the match, oftentimes acting as a supporting striker to Redondo. It took Redondo a few minutes to connect with her teammates but ultimately, she did good in interacting with the midfield and ended up scoring the goal in the last minute.

• 5’ GOAL (0-1) by Ana Capeta: goal conceded by Real Madrid from a set piece. Andreia Bravo’s freekick flew directly to the far post where Capeta was to push it in and level the draw for a couple of minutes.

• 7’ GOAL (1-1) by Sandie Toletti: Feller ran into the box where she found Fátima who failed to clear the ball. Feller took the ball back passing it to Weir who was running into the box. She dribbled past the defense until she was surrounded and forced to pass back to Toletti who masterfully finished the action.

• 51’ GOAL (2-1) by Sandie Toletti: one more goal by the French midfielder assisted by Weir. A brilliant pass followed by another brilliant finish.

• 90+4’ GOAL (3-1) by Alba Redondo: Redondo receives Tere’s through pass and shoots a rocket that almost broke the net. This was the last action of the match as the whistle was blown immediately after starting from the center again.

Real Madrid are through to the UWCL group stage for the 4th year in a row. Las Blancas will know their opponents after the draw on Friday, September 27th at 13:00 CEST.