Special celebration before an important week for Barça

Saint Joan DespiThe Johan Cruyff Stadium is a—practically—inexpugnable fortress when Barça Women play. Pere Romeu's team defeated Madrid CFF (5-1) and took advantage of Real Madrid's draw at Athletic Club de Bilbao's ground (1-1) to extend their lead at the top of the table to four points. A special match in which Marta Torrejón reached 500 official games in the blue and garnet shirt. She is the third player to reach this figure after Melanie Serrano (517) and Alexia Putellas (508).

In a weekend of tribute to Jesús de Miguel, a Tenerife player who died on Tuesday after a collision with goalkeeper Jesús Owono, the Barça anthem did not play over the Johan Cruyff stadium PA system when the players took the field. Furthermore, a minute of silence was also held and in the ninth minute, the number worn by the Madrid-born forward, play was stopped to project images of the Tenerife footballer on the video scoreboards.

On the pitch, the script was the same as the one Pere Romeu drew up in the press conference. High pressure from Madrid CFF that Barça overcame to create danger for Belén de Gracia's goal. Claudia Pina had the first two chances, but the crossbar and the goalkeeper prevented, momentarily, the goal for the blue and reds. With an imposing Aïcha in defensive duties, the blue and reds had absolute control of the match.

It was a matter of time before the first goal arrived. And it arrived in the most unexpected way, after a slip by Mónica Hickmann that Esmee Brugts took advantage of to put the 1-0 on the scoreboard. A few minutes later, Ewa Pajor finished off a great collective play by Barça to extend the lead. The Polish striker, moreover, has reached 100 official matches with the blue and garnet shirt in the duel against Madrid CFF.

It was not the only celebration at the Johan Cruyff stadium, as Marta Torrejón has reached 500 matches with the blue and garnet jersey and has become the third player to reach this figure after Melanie Serrano (517) and Alexia Putellas (508). Torrejón celebrated it with an assist to Carla Julià, while Patri Guijarro, with a great goal, and Claudia Pina made it 5-0. Inès Konan narrowed the gap with the final 5-1. All this before starting an important week in which Barça will face Arsenal on Thursday at Camp Nou (18:45, TV3).