On matchday five of the Women’s Champions League, the German side Wolfsburg travelled to the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. Both teams were safely inside the top twelve, which meant a place in the next round was within reach. Last week, both clubs faced English opposition. Real Madrid Femenino lost 2:1 to Arsenal, while Wolfsburg confidently defeated Manchester United Women with 5:2. A great performance by coach Stephan Lerch.
Around a thousand supporters made their way to the stadium. They hoped for more than an evening of heavy rain and wished for a proper match to go with it.
The first chance of the evening was instantly the first goal. In the 19th minute, Eva Navarro curled a perfect cross into the box. Her teammate from the Spanish national team, Maria Méndez, rose above everyone and headed it in with a good header.
It looked as if the home side had spent the week practising corners. The second goal almost came from one too, but after bouncing off Filippa Angeldal, the ball went on the post. Wolfsburg could consider that a very lucky escape.
Everything seemed to be going well for Los Blancos, until they decided to make things unnecessarily complicated. Seconds before the break, Maëlle Lakrar launched into a rough tackle on Lineth Beerensteyn. The Dutch forward cried out in pain. The referee reached for a yellow card, Lakrar’s second in five minutes. A very unnecessary and stupid foul.
With a player advantage, you would expect the visitors to take over the match. But nothing could be further from the truth. The danger in the second half came almost entirely from the home team. Since Die Wölfe pushed forward with full force, enormous gaps opened up in their defence.
If you then have the quick Linda Caicedo running at you, you are in real trouble. First, she was denied by alert goalkeeper Stina Johannes, but moments later in the 67th minute she found the net. After a perfect through ball from Caroline Weir, sent from her own half, the Colombian star began a solo run. She rounded the keeper smoothly and placed the ball into the goal. A two goal lead with ten players on the pitch. Coach Pau Quesada was clearly satisfied.
There wasn’t much to note from Wolfsburg. Apart from a small chance by Alexandra Popp, the visitors hardly came close to scoring. They played without inspiration. At times they were far too restless on the ball.
Real Madrid looked ready to stroll to the finish line, but late drama stuck out a foot. Substitute Iris Santiago tried to shoot just before added time, but kicked on goalkeeper Johannes. The contact was clear. Nobody expected it, but referee Kirsty Dowle went to check the situation with VAR. After a short review she was ruthless. Red for Santiago. The first red card in the career of the eighteen year old forward.
And so Los Blancos ended the match with two goals and two red cards. Wolfsburg never truly created big chances, something I did not expect after their recent performance against Manchester United. The players of Quesada take an important step toward the next round.
