MADRID, 4 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid and Levante UD separated themselves from their rivals this weekend in the fight for second and third places in the 2023-2024 F League, which gives access to being in the Champions League, after beating Valencia (7-1) and Atlético de Madrid (0-1), respectively, while FC Barcelona did not lose ground against last-place Sporting Club Huelva (0-1), in matches corresponding to the fifteenth day and first of the second round .
The Madrid team took advantage of the direct duel between the colchoneras and the 'granotas' in Alcalá de Henares thanks to their rout of the 'che' in possibly their best match of the season at the Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Alberto Toril's team forgot the last defeat at home to say goodbye to the Champions League against the Swedish BC Hacken (0-1) and gave Valencia no options in a clash with Caroline Moeller taking center stage. The Danish forward confirmed her good form and led the victory with a hat trick, while Linda Caicedo, Naomie Feller, Signe Bruun, who was reunited with the goal after a long time, and Maite Oroz completed a victory 'made up' by Anita Marcos.
This victory allowed Real Madrid to now be six points ahead of Atlético de Madrid, whom they will visit this coming week in the quarterfinals of the Queen's Cup and with whom they still have the league derby pending. The Colchonero team once again stumbled against Levante, who with their 0-1 victory, defended their third place to remain two points behind the Madridistas.
The team that Manolo Cano wanted to take revenge for the semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup, but, after a very disputed match, gave in due to a new goal from their 'executioner' in Butarque, a Gabi Nunes who, offside, headed the goal of the Valencian victory on the edge of half-time and opening four points of advantage over the colchoneras.
For its part, the fourth team candidate to fight for second and third place, Madrid CFF, also dropped points by drawing (3-3) against Sevilla and remaining four points behind Real Madrid, but with one more match. The locals initially dominated 2-0 and then 3-1 with less than ten minutes left, but the Sevillistas took a point to extend their League F games to nine without losing with a final goal in the 94th minute by Cristina Martín-Prieto.
Furthermore, FC Barcelona had no problems in consolidating its leadership in the domestic championship and maintaining nine points ahead of Real Madrid by winning 4-0 against last-place Sporting Club Huelva to forget its draw in the Champions League against Benfica. A double from Claudia Pina broke the visitors' resistance and, already in the second half, the Norwegian Caroline Graham Hansen reinforced her top scorer with her thirteenth goal and Esmee Brugts closed the scoring already in added time.
For her part, a double from the Finnish Sanni Franssi gave victory to Real Sociedad in the derby against SD Eibar in Ipurua, while the one from the American Kayla McKenna was vital for Villarreal's three points against Betis. The Castellón team put five points on a relegation from which Granada took breath to emerge by beating Athletic Club 2-0. Costa Adeje Tenerife and Levante Las Planas tied at one goal with an early goal from the local team (Gift Monday) and a late goal from the visitors (Jessica Martínez).