The date was repeated, the place was repeated. And also fate. But this time something was different: Alexia Putellas was back after missing virtually the entire previous Champions League, playing just nine minutes in the final. After the ligament injury in his left knee, he wanted to compete again. And he did that by opening the scoring with a brace against Benfica in the Culés’ first game in the European Championship. However, he left the game in the second half as a precautionary measure due to problems with his left knee. Last year, FC Barcelona’s 9-0 win over Benfica turned the game into the culé club’s biggest win in Europe. This time a 5-0 result sealed the Barça team’s good start. Even though the start of the game was difficult for Jonatan Giráldez’s Gala team.
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The Portuguese team has strengthened over the last year and Barcelona’s players have suffered as a result. Benfica, unbeatable in their league, more mature and more stable, stifled the reigning European champions in the first half. But Barça puffed out their chest and pounded on their rivals’ goal until they scored the decisive goal. And well protected at home, they prove that the defeats are not over yet, no matter how strong their rivals become and advance.
The Johan Cruyff Stadium was not full. But he exuded the scent and desire for the Champions League. The star screen in the middle of the field was removed to make way for the team’s debut in their fetish competition. Benfica did not give in to the opposition despite their overwhelming defeat on the same pitch last year. Without the spirit of 9-0, they appeared ambitious and risky, with speed and courage on the counterattack after stealing the ball and with crushing pressure for Barcelona. The Portuguese team caught the culés confused, without understanding what was going on or how to solve it. They needed quick passes, possession of the ball and coming together. They were uncomfortable, but it was a matter of time. Cata Coll’s cold blood and dribbling kept the goal posts up. Mapi León and Marta Torrejón solved the deficiencies in defense, this time without Irene Paredes, who was ruled out at the last minute due to tonsillitis. And the quintessential Graham Hansen shone, dribbling near the penalty area. His return after an injury gave the team breathing room and width. She shot and tried everything near Lena Pauels’ goal. His assists helped the team.
And when Barcelona needed it most, the captain came too. Alexia took advantage of the rebound from the Norwegian’s strike and scored the goal with a header, making her Barça’s top scorer in the Champions League. He kissed the shield and forgot the rumors about his future. But not everything went well. During a moment of pause, the captain complained about her knee and she temporarily sat on the bench. When we returned, the stadium breathed calmly.
According to Alexia’s goal, oxygen. The Portuguese’s frenzy couldn’t last long: they got stuck and the culés’ dominance began. Esmee Brugts scored the second goal in the 38th minute, and a final ball hit from Putellas confirmed the goal.
Barça had woken up. And he sent the ball to the right wing for Hansen to work his magic. Nothing could stop her. And the sentence was signed a minute before half-time: Mariona Caldentey filtered a horizontal pass to Hansen, who took it to the center, and Aitana countered, defined and remembered that she is the last winner of the Ballon d’Or.
The parade continued in the second half. Thanks to another assist from the Norwegian winger, Aitana scored a brace in the 52nd minute, although Alexia took refuge on the bench as a precaution and was replaced by Patri Guijarro, who was returning from a muscle injury. While Benfica, still dizzy and tired, couldn’t do anything with the efforts of Salma Paralluelo and Asisat Oshoala, who missed an overhead kick and scored their fifth goal with half an hour to go. And Claudia Pina celebrated her 100th anniversary at Barça when she came on for Keira Walsh, and Hansen took a break after his assists hat-trick to give Vicky López minutes. The pace slowed, the Benfica players sighed and panted. Jonatan Giráldez’s Barça celebrated the victory and the coach’s 100 games for the club.
Like déjà vu, Barcelona suffered a defeat in their first Champions League game. There is still a long way to go. But one win closer to lifting the trophy again for the third time. For now, Montjuïc is on the horizon, where the first classic of the season will be played this Sunday against Madrid. In the league they apparently remain unbeatable without rivals. And in the Champions League they are rewriting the first chapter of last season. With different ink but with the same magic.
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