Teamwork makes the dream work

Barcelona 3-0 Actual Madrid (Mar 24, 2024) Sport Evaluation

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A Caroline Graham Hansen-inspired Barcelona beat Actual Madrid 3-0 on the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Sunday to maneuver 12 factors clear on the high of Liga F.

The Norway worldwide helped create the opening objective for Fridolina Rolfö, laid on the second for Aitana Bonmatí and scored the third herself as Barça made it 14 consecutive Clásico victories since Madrid absorbed CD Tacon in 2020.

Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)

Graham Hansen, 29, now has a exceptional 51 objective contributions throughout 29 appearances in all competitions this season, together with 26 targets, 17 of which have now come within the league.

She is main Barça’s cost for a quadruple, with Jonatan Giráldez’s facet already into the Copa de la Reina last and 2-1 up on the midway stage of their Champions League quarterfinal towards Brann.

: Caroline Graham Hansen scored Barcelona’s third objective towards Actual Madrid on Sunday.

“Till we win trophies — the Champions League, the league and the cup — [my] statistics do not matter,” Graham Hansen informed DAZN after the sport.

“If we do not win something, they do not depend for something. We’ve got to maintain going as a crew and preserve successful matches.

“Madrid had a free midweek earlier than this sport and had a 5 minute spell the place they’d extra of the ball.

“We managed the remainder of the sport, although, and will have scored extra targets within the first half. We had possibilities that we must always have scored.”

The primary trophy of a potential 4 arrived in January after they gained the Spanish Supercopa, beating Madrid 4-0 within the semifinal.

Alberto Toril’s Madrid facet have threatened to shut the hole on Barça lately, ending simply 10 factors behind them final season and dropping to them within the final eight of the Champions League two years in the past, however they’ve struggled to kick on this season.

Madrid have already been eradicated from the Copa and the Champions League and, after falling even additional behind Barça this weekend, will now deal with ending within the high three and securing European soccer once more subsequent season.

They continue to be six factors away from third-placed Levante and 7 forward of Madrid CFF, who’re fourth.

Sunday’s go to from Barça was one other likelihood to seal a first-ever win towards the Catalan facet, however as has frequently been the case on this fixture, they have been second greatest from the beginning.

The guests led inside 10 minutes when Graham Hansen fed Ona Batlle to sq. for fellow full-back Rolfö, who solely not too long ago returned from a long-term knee harm.

Barça continued to dominate however Bonmatí was twice denied by Misa Rodríguez, whereas Salma Paralluelo hit the crossbar as they failed so as to add to their tally earlier than the break.

Madrid’s greatest likelihood got here through Barça centre-back Irene Paredes, whose tried clearance hit her personal bar.

Graham Hansen took the sport by the scruff of the neck within the early phases of the second half to kill the sport off.

She latched on to an excellent lengthy go from England worldwide Keira Walsh, carried out wizardry on the touchline to maintain the ball in play, beat her opponent and arrange Ballon d’Or winner Bonmatí in fifty fifth minute.

Twelve minutes later, Graham Hansen obtained the objective she deserved, once more displaying good footwork earlier than firing previous Rodríguez to finish the house facet’s hopes of a comeback.

Barça eased themselves over the road from there, giving minutes to former Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas as she continues her return from an harm and handing breathers to Graham Hansen and Bonmatí.

With 61 factors from a potential 63, Barça are coasting in direction of in a fifth straight Liga F title in what shall be Giráldez’s last marketing campaign as coach earlier than he joins NWSL facet Washington Spirit within the last.

Earlier than then, Giráldez has his eye on successful again the Copa de la Reina after being kicked out final season for fielding an ineligible facet, however the huge goal shall be successful back-to-back Champions Leagues.

Barça host Brann within the second leg of their quarterfinal tie on Thursday, with a potential semifinal to return towards both Chelsea or Ajax in April.