Real Madrid won against Levante Badalona with a result of 3-2 in a dramatic fashion on matchday 19 of Liga F. Below are my views and thoughts on the match.
- Misa started on goal. Shei and Yasmim started as fullbacks, with Méndez and Lakrar as the CB duo. Teresa and Toletti made up the pivot duo in midfield. Weir was a part of the front four with Eva, Linda, and Redondo who was leading the line.
Levante Badalona were in a 5-4-1 with a tight space between their two lines. It was difficult for Las Blancas to get a pass to the forward and the main idea of the game seemed to be sending in crosses and long balls that almost never reached anyone at the front. With both Yasmim and Shei as starting fullbacks who both gravitate toward the inside, combined with Linda Caicedo on the left wing who does the same, it wasn’t easy to create the fast-paced triangles to break their low block.
They’re in a 5-4-1 with two tight lines, no wonder our passes can’t reach the forward line. I’m not sure that we have this figured out. Where are the quick combinations in build-up when you need them? pic.twitter.com/ZmJSupZpFU
— Las Blancas Podcast (@las_blancas) February 16, 2025
Another interesting occurrence were the crosses being sent to Alba Redondo, who shouldn’t be that sort of a target in the box when Bruun is more of a profile for this kind of an idea. Later on, in the second half, Signe Bruun got subbed on and it could be seen from her first few minutes on the pitch that she was a much better person for this job. Olga’s first cross on the pitch easily reached Bruun in the box which could’ve been a goal if the Dane had received it better on her head. Similar with a chance led by Athenea who sent in a ground cross to the striker. However, it still wasn’t Bruun who got that winner in, but it was Redondo with her sliding shot.
Real Madrid definitely dominated the stats, but it was Badalona who took the lead in 12’ after a penalty was awarded after a three-way clash inside the penalty area. Llompart converted it. For the majority of the first half, Las Blancas had issues connecting a few passes in a row and they finally managed to break their low block in the last 5 minutes of the first half.
- 12’: GOAL (0-1) by María Llompart: Misa dives the opposite way in this penalty kick. The celebration Llompart’s teammates did with her was an interesting one too, with it being a half siuu – half Mbappé’s celebration.
- 40’: GOAL (1-1) by Eva Navarro: a chip-like cross by Yasmim reaches Navarro in the center of the box who shoots it in on the first touch. Yasmim’s first assist in the white jersey.
- 45+1’: GOAL (2-1) by Maëlle Lakrar: stunning assist by Caroline Weir straight from the corner flag to reach Lakrar’s head. Beautifully executed header as well.
- 81’: GOAL (2-2) by Rebecca Elloh: A cross from the left wing that was intended for Lee in the heart of the box wasn’t cleared in time, but Rebecca got to the ball and pushed it in.
- 90+3’: GOAL (3-2) by Alba Redondo: A perfectly timed low-bearing cross by Olga reached Redondo who was just running into Badalona’s box to slide it in. A minute earlier, Athenea scored the goal which was annulled seemingly for a foul in attack by Alba Redondo, but she made up for it in a spectacular fashion to complete the remontada.
The late remontadas against Levante Badalona on Alfredo Di Stefano continue as tradition even after their name change from Levante Las Planas last summer. A dramatic end of the match before the players take on the international break for the rest of the month.