UWCL: Barcelona put nine past debutants Hammarby in record-equalling win | OneFootball

A dominant performance against Hammarby gave Barcelona more than just their first three points in the Champions League. It was about how they played, not just the scoreline.

Goals from Caroline Graham Hansen, Clàudia Pina, Alexia Putellas, Mapi León, Ewa Pajor, Esmee Brugts, and Fridolina Rolfö secured their joint-biggest win in UWCL history for Barcelona. This was against a debutant team that performed quite well in Europe, with a large fan base cheering for them.

Starting XIs

Barcelona

Cata; Batlle, Mapi, Engen, Rolfö; Patri, Aitana, Alexia; Pajor, Graham, Pina.

Hammarby

Tamminen; Lennartsson, Nyström, Karlsson, Andersson; Miyagawa, Joramo, Hasund; Wangerheim, Blackstad, Tandberg.

Hammarby visited Barcelona for the first time ever, and facing the current Champions League winners was no easy task for the Swedish side. The Stockholm team had the very first chance of the match in the opening minute, and it could have been a goal if not for Cata Coll’s save. That might have changed everything.

However, Pere Romeu’s team responded well. Barcelona showed their best form of the season. The scoreline may have been harsh on Hammarby, who played impressively, but their lack of experience in European competition ultimately cost them.

Embed from Getty Images

Nine goals for Barcelona

Hansen broke the deadlock with a cross-shot from the wing — a trademark move for her. The Norwegian also set up the second goal with a cross from the same wing, which Pina was perfectly positioned to finish. A superb cross from Patri Guijarro, again starting from the right, ended with an Putellas header for the third goal.

All three goals were orchestrated on the side where nearly 400 Hammarby fans were located. These passionate supporters had traveled from Stockholm to cheer for their team, singing loudly from the very first minute of the match.

In the second half, León scored the fourth, connecting with Aitana Bonmatí’s cross from a corner. Pina took center stage again, taking advantage of the pass to make it 5-0. Hansen also sought more, dribbling past several defenders near the byline before Pajor battled to win the ball and, despite a scrappy shot, added another goal.

Embed from Getty Images

Hammarby credits

Anna Tamminen, Hammarby’s goalkeeper, performed admirably to prevent an even wider scoreline. Full credit to her for standing strong as Barcelona exploited the spaces left by the defenders. Hansen found gaps no matter how narrow, scoring her second goal to cap off a brilliant individual display.

Hammarby were already out of the match, holding just 19 percent possession. Meanwhile, the hosts completed 910 passes and took 33 shots. Brugts, who had just come off the bench, took one of those shots, adding an eighth goal with a strike that clipped the post.

Julie Blakstad and Cathinka Tandberg were Hammarby’s biggest threats to Barcelona’s defen e, taking seven shots without success. Finally, Rolfö sealed the victory with a penalty

Goal average importance

In the Champions League group stage, securing top spot is crucial to potentially facing ‘lighter’ opponents in the quarter-finals. However, finishing first in the group depends on goal difference. Manchester City’s comeback against St. Pölten forced Barcelona to score as many goals as possible, anticipating a potential goal difference tiebreaker in the final group stage match.

Related articles from Her Football Hub: