FC Barcelona did its part and beat Atlético de Madrid (4-0) in a placid match that they dominated from start to finish. Aitana Bonmatí opened the scoring in the first half and Vicky López and Graham Hansen, with two great goals, sealed the match before Aitana put the icing on the cake with the fourth in the last minute. Now, the blaugrana will have to wait for Real Madrid not to win tomorrow (6pm) against Betis to mathematically proclaim themselves champions of the F League.
Barça jumped at Johan Cruyff determined to do their homework and do their part to get closer to their eighth league title. Maturing the plays, combining patiently –sometimes too much- and always monopolizing possession in the opposite half, Giráldez's team didn't need much to take over the game.
Without oversubduing Lola Gallardo, who saved a good shot from distance by Graham Hansen on the first chance for the blaugrana. Atlético also had it shortly after, but Paños saved Ajibade's shot without any problems. It was the only clear chance for an Atlético team that would end up conceding the first goal 28 minutes into the game after a brilliant collective move started by a long pass from Rolfö to the right wing. Graham Hansen, at the first touch, sent the ball into the area, where Aitana Bonmatí entered to send the ball into the back of the net with an acrobatic shot while falling.
Little else happened in the first 45 minutes. Once again, it was necessary to wait until the second half for Giráldez's team to put another gear into the game. And boy did he do it! 29 seconds were enough for Vicky López to widen the gap. The young promise signed by Barcelona this summer showed a very unusual security and maturity in a footballer of only 16 years. Intense in defensive work, creative in offense, the former Madrid CFF player recovered a poor rebound from the mattress defense inside the area and with a great shot sent the ball into the back of the net to the delight of the stands, which cheered when she was replaced.
If Vicky López's goal was worthy of being included in the summary of the best goals of the day, just ten minutes later Caroline Graham Hansen would earn her merits to enter the ranking of the best of the year. The Norwegian cut two defenders up front and adjusted the ball with extraordinary quality to make it 3-0 and unleash the madness of the fans and her own teammates, who celebrated it as the great goal it was.
The advantage on the scoreboard did not make Barça loosen up, quite the contrary. The Blaugrana team showed their best version, attacking the goal of a highly demanded Lola Gallardo over and over again. The mattress goalkeeper became the savior of her team, preventing two powerful cannon shots from entering. First, that of Mapi León, then, of the recently renewed Bruna Vilamala, as well as a great adjusted shot by Aitana Bonmatí. Barça collected chances and Mariona, reappearing after her injury, crashed the ball into the crossbar in a dangerous free kick in favor of the blaugrana. At the last minute, the Blaugrana captain put the icing on the cake with the fourth and final after an assist from Bruna Vilamala from the baseline. El Johan was a party and, despite the fact that the alirón would have to wait, the public fired the players shouting 'champions, champions'.
