Barça reminds Real Madrid that they still have more soup to eat.

BarcelonaBarça emerged strengthened at the top of Liga F, reminding a battling Real Madrid that they still have a long way to go if they want to challenge the Blaugrana for the title (4-0). With a brace from Pajor on his return to the starting eleven, a penalty save by Cata in tense moments at the end of the match, and goals from Sydney and Aitana, Pere Romeu's team moved seven points clear of Los Blancos in the standings. Brugts, injured, was the only negative note in an electrifying match played in front of 36,000 fans at Montjuïc.

The home side's celebrations began around the 30th minute. The match started at a frantic pace. Less than a minute had passed when Alexia hit the post after a cross from Ona. In five minutes, Weir, with a goal disallowed for offside, and Feller, with a shot against the post after a good counter-attack, led Real Madrid's attempted comeback.

The Blaugrana responded by opening the scoring, but it wasn't enough. A delightful chipped assist from Vicky – starting ahead of Aitana and the big surprise in the eleven – was finished off by Pajor with a great goal. The VAR review, which was a major talking point throughout the match, disallowed the goal for a dubious offside. It's worth remembering that the VAR system used in the Women's League is a much more limited and rudimentary tool than the one used in the Champions League or in professional men's football.

The opening minutes were a clear statement of intent from both teams, but the talent and experience of the Blaugrana, spurred on by their devoted fans, ultimately prevailed. A hungry Pajor, now truly hungry, finished off a shot at the near post after Pina beat Navarro. Pajor didn't take long to add a second. Earlier, however, the Polish player saw another dubious decision by referee Paola Cebollada, at the urging of VAR, denied her a goal. This time, it was ruled that the ball had struck her arm before she completed the shot. However, the images provided by the review, which Cebollada went to see on the monitor, did not clearly clarify whether the ball hit her arm or her shoulder.

Pajor scores twice in 30 minutes

Pajor finally got her brace just as the half-hour mark approached. Graham's cross-shot was poorly deflected by Misa, and the Polish player pounced on the loose ball to fire it into the back of the net. The second goal sparked a party at Montjuïc, where the crowd quickly broke into a wave. Earlier, Cata had made a colossal save in a one-on-one situation against Caicedo, and after Barça's second goal, Paredes made a crucial intervention, clearing Weir's lob off the line.

Far from the whites closing the gap, it was Pajor who came closest to scoring. hat trick In a counter-attack that originated from a long pass by Cata, Pina executed an exquisite first touch to set up the tireless Polish striker, but Caicedo's defensive support was crucial in denying her the shot at the last moment. Barça entertained and enjoyed themselves against an opponent that never gave up, but whose attacks slowed as the minutes ticked by and their energy waned.

The Catalan side dominated possession overwhelmingly, which wore down the home team. Despite conceding the second goal, Pau Quesada's team tried to stick to their game plan, which prevented the Catalans from losing focus, but the initial high-octane pace gradually slowed, giving way to a calmer final few minutes of the first half and the opening stages of the second half. olés of the fans when Barça were outplaying their rivals by stringing together passes.

Cata saves a penalty from Weir

The second half also started brightly, with Vicky playing a through ball that Graham tried to turn into a spectacular goal, but her long-range chip grazed the net over the bar. Barça were looking for a third goal, and Madrid were trying to threaten on the counter-attack. The Whites forced an own goal from Paredes that was disallowed because Weir's cross had been offside.

The final stages of the match were tense. Pere Romeu was forced to move Ona to a weaker side due to an injury to Brugts, one of the Barcelona players who was in the best form and who couldn't leave the pitch on her own after hurting her knee. Real Madrid tried to use their last remaining chances. In an isolated play that required, once again, a VAR review which ultimately went in Real Madrid's favor, the referee awarded a penalty after Cata collided with Athenea as the Madrid player was already falling. The Barça goalkeeper made herself huge and saved Weir's penalty.

If there was any remaining hope for Real Madrid, Sydney crushed it with the third goal after a good recovery by Kika. Aitana compounded the damage with the fourth, finishing off a Mapi assist at the far post. Barça are going all out. Next stop: Stamford Bridge.