Barcelona beat St. Polten in matchday 3 in the Women’s Champions League group stage boosting the Spanish side’s chances of qualifying to the knockout round.
Barcelona’s anticipated brighter start to this season’s campaign was immediately shattered by Manchester City in a bold display that saw the English side at home sink the LaLiga champions in the opening game.
This was further compounded by Hammarby’s victory over St. Polten seeing the former living on first three points in the opening day with Barca none.
Barcelona’s impetus form in the domestic scene means they had all the chances to bounce back in European football when coming up against Swedish side Hammarby in the second game. As low as that game was given the pedigree of both sides in the competition, Barcelona demolished the Stockholm-based side 9-0 at the Johan Cruyff Stadium to pick their first three points.
The reigning Women’s Champions League title holders were not better in matters of needing more wins to boost their chances of qualifying to the knockout phase. In a game against another unknown side in the history of the competition, Barcelona were forced to run rampant only at the dying-minutes of the first half.
Barcelona scored five quick goals in the final thirteen minutes of the first half with Ewa Pajor opening the team’s account the 32′ minute. Kika Nazareth doubled the lead before Pajor extended it to 3-0 in a deserved Barcelona lead but the visitors’ serial conceding was attributed to confusion in defence. Keira Waish registered the fourth goal as Claudia Pina sealed the 5-0 first half lead.
Barca’s eagerness and accuracy up front increased in early stage of the second term winning a penalty as a result with Pina stepping forward to hit the bottom right corner to get her second of the night.
The home side continued their direct attacks but the visitors diligently dealt with some aerial and ground situations within the period that could have sparked another scoring spree in early second half.
St. Polten completely unchecked Barca’s rapid flow with a deep compact defensive setup gripping the hosts for a long time as the 3-time European champions fail to find the penetrations.
A hallmark Barcelona still managed to break and opened from the right edge with Carolina Graham Hasen, who got a brace against Hammarby, entering the box with the ball at her feet and fired to the far posts.
Pere Romeu Sunyer’s side move to second of Group D with 6 points after two consecutive wins. But they await on results between leaders Man City and at-already-three-points Hammarby.
