Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid (Nov 19, 2023) Game Analysis

Barcelona dominated Real Madrid from begin to end in Sunday’s El Clásico as they recorded a formidable 5-0 win in entrance of a crowd of 38,707 on the Olympic Stadium.

Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen and Mariona Caldentey all scored within the first half, with Clàudia Pina and Vicky López chipping in late on as Barça maintained their excellent begin to the season to maneuver six factors away from Madrid on the high of Liga F.

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Madrid have closed the hole on Barça in recent times, ending 10 factors behind them in second place final season, however the Spanish and European champions reaffirmed their superiority right here.

“I am really happy with the result, it’s not easy to win 5-0 like we have,” Bonmatí mentioned after the sport.

“The intention is always to keep going and to keep winning, especially against Madrid, the eternal rival. They came out strong and it seemed as if it was going to be an even game.

“From the primary purpose, although, we took management of the sport and we did not cease.”

Both teams were missing key players through injury — Madrid were without Caroline Weir, while Alexia Putellas and Irene Paredes were absent for Barça — but there was still plenty of quality on the pitch.

Colombia’s Linda Caicedo caused problems for the away side early on, but once Ballon d’Or winner Bonmatí opened the scoring in the 17th minute after good work from Graham Hansen and Lucy Bronze, Barça motored through the gears.

Bonmatí, Graham Hansen and Salma Paralleulo were all denied by the woodwork at various points, with Graham Hansen and Paralleulo also guilty of missing further chances to double Barça’s lead.

The second goal finally arrived just before the break when Graham Hansen, who turned left-back Olga Carmona inside out throughout the game, scored from close range.

Caldentey, who received a standing ovation when she was taken off in the second half, then added the third in first half stoppage time, finishing expertly after Patri Guijarro had helped the ball back into the box.

Madrid made three changes at the break to try and stem the flow of Barça chances and, apart from a fine Misa Rodríguez save from Paralluelo, it largely worked until the final few minutes of the game.

Substitute Pina eventually scored the fourth in the 91st minute after a brilliant Bonmatí run, with 17-year-old López, also off the bench, completing the rout two minutes later.

Madrid defender Ivana Andrés spoke of not reacting too hastily after the disheartening loss to their rivals.

“In the warmth of the second, it is best to attend a day to analyse the defeat,” Andrés said.

“We wish to preserve bettering. We need to be taught from this. We’re unhappy, after all.

“There are things to improve and we have to keep working hard and correcting our errors, but we leave with our heads high. Football continues.”