Barcelona savors the Champions League quarterfinals after beating St. Pölten | Soccer | Sports | EUROtoday

In Viola Park, a number of kilometers from the Vienna Opera, Barcelona as soon as once more performed its favourite melody: that of victories, and that of victory. Against St. Pölten there was no opposition. The blaugranas dominated comfortably, managed the tempo and danced with their sport, rewarded with a double from Kika Nazareth, a aim from Vicky López and the celebration of Alexia Putellas’ 2 hundredth aim as a blaugrana (1-4). Barça, second within the group, three factors behind leaders Manchester City, are already savoring, as soon as once more, the quarterfinals of the Champions League, nearly categorised.

The Barça workforce landed in Austria in full form and with shallowness after the victory in opposition to Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid of their respective stadiums. And though they need to not let themselves be clouded by the arrogance of the rout of St. Pölten at dwelling (7-0), Pere Romeu opted for fairly a number of, however dependable, rotations, together with some irreplaceable gamers. Of course, he tried once more with 4 midfielders: Alexia Putellas as a false winger, Vicky López and Patri Guijarro as inside gamers, and Keira Walsh as a pivot. Compared to them, the Austrians confirmed up at dwelling with extra of their wardrobe: they’ve gone from the 4 gamers on the bench – two goalkeepers – from the final match in Barcelona to the seven substitutes.

Even so, the identical melody sounded in Austria as in Barcelona. Although with a distinct and improved tone, with better consolation for the Blaugrana, additionally breadth and with targets earlier than time. Graham discovered his explicit areas between one, two, three gamers on the correct wing. The St. Pölten footballers sank into the realm with a defensive block loaded with legs. Until Kika Nazareth, more and more accustomed to the workforce and with the false 9 place settled, took benefit of a mistake by Dubcová, stole the ball from his ft within the space and outlined with energy to attain the primary aim. Shortly after, the second would come: Alexia discovered Esmee Brugts on the left, accelerated rapidly to place a move to Kika, who turned, and with barely any time to suppose, scored the second.

With the ban open, the third would arrive after two minutes after a restoration by Vicky López. Patri Guijarro returned the ball to her with a backheel, the younger girl grew to become even smaller and slipped by the protection to attain her first aim within the European championship with Barça. Later, with Barça at half pace and after an important triangulation and collective play, Alexia, all the time harmful inside the realm, scored her 2 hundredth aim as a Barça participant.

St. Pölten wandered between annoyed counterattacks and timid arrivals. But Barça made a mistake in a free kick, with a ball that roamed freely by the realm till Mädl pushed to attain the primary aim for the Austrians, and which left Cata Coll regretting.

Romeu rotated within the closing stretch of the match, providing the Champions League debut to 17-year-old Swiss Sydney Schertenleib. And though the sport went out with much less precision and rhythm for the Blaugranas, they ended up signing a single and a brand new victory on their method by Europe.