MADRID, 22 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid will look for a key victory this Thursday (6:45 p.m.) for their future in the group stage of the Women’s Champions League in their visit to the Swedish BK Hacken, against whom they will try to recover their best version after two last gray games, especially all of last Sunday at the Estadi Lluís Companys, and overcome their losses.
The Madrid team faces the second day of the top continental competition immersed in a demanding stretch of the season that will test its current playing time, which is not the most optimal, especially in regards to the defensive level of the team. showed off last year.
The team coached by Alberto Toril has just been beaten 5-0 by FC Barcelona last Sunday, a result that showed that there is still a gap between both teams and that they have had to quickly forget the runner-up of the F League in order to visit a Hacken that will try to take advantage of its home status to make the quarterfinals difficult for its rival.
Real Madrid could only hold out against the current European champion for just 20 minutes. They had a good start, pressing and bothering, but that came to nothing after Aitana Bonmatí’s 1-0, without even the ability to react to worry a Cata Coll that did not have to make any stops.
This defeat was added to the discreet debut days before in the Champions League, more in the game than in the result, since the Madrid team ended up saving a point with its 2-2 draw against the powerful English Chelsea, which also subdued it for many moments , barely allowed him to maneuver in attack and that Alfredo di Stéfano did not win due to a controversial referee decision and the actions of goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez, also at a good level last Sunday.
Real Madrid knows that winning in Sweden would strengthen its objective of overcoming a very competitive group led precisely by Hacken, who won the first matchday (1-2) against Paris FC and who arrives more rested because his The league ended a week and a half ago and also with fewer physical problems.
Alberto Toril comes with several casualties that join the well-known ones of Caroline Weir and Carla Camacho, such as those of the forwards Linda Caicedo and Naomie Feller and the midfielder Sandie Toletti, so he has to tweak his team in search of an offensive improvement and to have energy to counteract the good physical component of the locals.
Face a BK Hacken, who have not been able to repeat their league title from last season after finishing tied on points with Hammarby and who have been able to prepare with care for a visit that has aroused much expectation among a fan that will fill the Arena Bravida, a enclosure with the discomfort for Real Madrid of artificial grass.
“It is incredibly great to be able to welcome Real Madrid to the Bravida Arena. They are a very capable opponent who have good players in all positions. It will require hard work for 90 minutes and it will be important that we work for each other and that everyone does the work necessary to get the three points,” warned Anna Sandgren.
The Swedish team, which returns to the competition after the 21-22 season where it only beat Benfica, conceding 18 goals and scoring three in a group with Olympique Lyon and Bayern, will have the significant loss of midfielder Elin Rubensson, who joins to those known for serious knee injuries to Anna Csiki and Stine Larsen. Young forward Rosa Kafaji and veteran goalkeeper Jennifer Falk are some of their best pieces.