Real Madrid Femenino put themselves in great position to qualify for Champions League
Real Madrid Femenino went up against one of the powerhouses of Primera Iberdrola on Matchday 22, as they faced derby rivals Atletico Madrid on the road this Sunday afternoon. Despite going down to 10 women early in the match after Olga Carmona was controversially sent off – and then Atleti only got a yellow for a similar incident on Jessica Martinez later in the match – Las Blancas managed to pull off a 1-0 win.
Sofia Jakobsson has been so impressive since joining the club when they were CD Tacon before the start of the 2019-2020 season. The Swedish forward was the one who broke the deadlock in the 67th minute, sliding the ball cooly past Hedvig Lindahl, who chose Atleti over Real this summer, to give Las Blancas a lead they would not relinquish.
On the subject of Lindahl, Madridistas are not worried one bit about her choosing Las Rojiblancas, because their own goalkeeper, Misa, has proven to be even better. She’s arguably the best in the league and proved it with another sensational stop to keep a clean sheet.
And speaking of players who snubbed Real for Atleti, star player Deyna Castellanos was sent off herself in the 77th minute to aid Las Blancas in closing out the match as winners.
Real Madrid Femenino are favorites to finish in Primera Iberdrola’s top three
Following this result, Real Madrid are clear favorites to hold down a Champions League spot. They are third in the league, with only one point separating them from second-place Levante. Better yet, they play Levante next Sunday in the late afternoon at home. And that match could help decide more of this Champions League race, as the second-place team will enter the competition’s new format one round later, giving them a better chance at qualifying for the new group stage.
But before Real Madrid vs. Levante, Madridistas can still rejoice in this win over Atleti. Not only was it a huge, feel-good win under difficult circumstances against a rival and traditional power in this league, but it truly does put Las Blancas in the driver’s seat.
Looking at the table, Real Madrid Femenino are now five points ahead of Madrid CFF in fourth, and they are six points ahead of Atleti in fifth.
Next. 3 players Toni Kroos has made better. dark
Every point matters, because five points is still a tight margin. But a head-to-head win over Atleti is HUGE for Las Blancas. They control their own destiny now, and they have to be considered favorites to finish in the top three. Of course, next week’s match against Levante will tell us more about how ready Real are to secure Champions League football for the first time ever.