Liga F round up: Real Madrid thrash Valencia, Levante claim crucial win | OneFootball

Real Madrid cruised to a commanding 7-1 victory over Valencia on matchday 16 of the Liga F season. Elsewhere, Levante edged out Atlético Madrid to record an important win in the race for Champions League qualification.

Here, we will round up all eight matches that took place in Liga F over the weekend, including Barcelona’s 4-0 win against Sporting Huelva.

Granada 2-0 Athletic Club

Granada boosted their survival hopes with a home victory over Athletic Club. Isabel Álvarez gave the hosts an early lead with an audacious long-range effort from just inside the Athletic half. The defender’s left-foot strike looped over the backpedalling Mariasun Quiñones, who could not prevent the ball from nestling in the net.

The Andalusians were presented with the chance to double their advantage after being awarded a controversial spot-kick in the second period. Naima García stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and register her first league goal of the campaign. The result moves Granada to within three points of safety, while the visitors are in ninth position with 20 points to their name.

Madrid CFF 3-3 Sevilla

Lucía Pardo guided the ball in from Luany’s cut-back to put Madrid CFF in front inside the opening 15 minutes. The hosts were then given the chance to double their advantage after Luany was brought down in the box. Mônica saw her penalty saved, but she slotted home from the subsequent rebound to net her fourth league goal of the season. Sevilla’s Toni Payne pulled a goal back, before Arsenal loanee Gio Queiroz scored her first Liga F goal to restore the home side’s two-goal advantage.

Just as it seemed Madrid CFF had done enough to secure all three points, Pamela González headed in from a corner to set up a grandstand finish. Madrid ultimately came undone from another corner in the fourth minute of stoppage time. With the hosts unable to clear their lines, Cristina Martín-Prieto swept the ball home from close range to salvage a point.

Atlético Madrid 0-1 Levante

Levante recorded a crucial win in Saturday’s away game against fellow top-three hopefuls Atlético Madrid. Gabi Nunes scored her seventh league goal to open the scoring in the 41st minute. The Brazilian headed the ball in off the underside of the crossbar after meeting Silvia Lloris lofted cross.

Despite doing their utmost to find the net in the second period, Atlético Madrid’s quest for an equaliser ultimately proved fruitless. As a result of the victory, Levante finished the weekend in third position, while Atleti are four points adrift in fifth place.

Villarreal 2-1 Real Betis

Villarreal moved up to 11th position with a narrow victory over Betis on Saturday. Kayla McKenna put her side in front just before the half hour mark. After receiving the ball with her back to goal, McKenna quickly swivelled to fire a left-foot strike into the bottom corner. The Jamaica international grabbed her second of the game in the 63rd minute, nodding home from Nerea Pérez’s deep cross.

Although Betis pulled a late goal back through Blanca Muñoz, the hosts saw out the remainder of the contest to record a second straight victory.

Real Madrid 7-1 Valencia

Real Madrid produced a positive response in their return to Liga F action after losing to Häcken in their final match of a disappointing European campaign. Linda Caicedo opened the scoring just before the half hour mark, before Caroline Møller tucked the ball home from Naomie Feller’s low cross. Møller quickly added her second to give Real Madrid a three-goal cushion at the break.

The Denmark international was celebrating her hat-trick within eight minutes of the restart after she guided the ball into the bottom corner from Feller’s far-post delivery. Although Anita Marcos pulled a goal back for the visitors, Real Madrid were still in the mood to add to their own tally. Signe Bruun and Feller grabbed a goal apeice, before Maite Oroz rounded off the scoring for Real Madrid in stoppage time of their latest Liga F outing.

Eibar 0-2 Real Sociedad

Sanni Franssi proved to be the star of the show in Real Sociedad’s away victory over fellow Basque side Eibar. The Finland international put her side in front in the ninth minute when she fired through the legs of Eibar goalkeeper María Miralles.

After giving her side a narrow lead, Franssi went on to add to her and Real Sociedad’s tally in the second period. The 28-year-old collected Synne Jensen’s lofted pass, before she slotted the ball in at the near post. The result extended Real Sociedad’s unbeaten run to eight competitive games, while Eibar have now lost their last two matches without troubling the scorers.

Costa Adeje Tenerife 1-1 Levante Las Planas

Gift Monday headed home from Pisco’s inch perfect cross to give Tenerife a fourth minute lead. The hosts looked to be heading towards all three points until Levante Las Planas carved out an equaliser in the 85th minute. Julia Mora’s inviting delivery found the far post run of Jessica Martínez, who sent her downward header past the helpless Aline Reis.

Tenerife have now drawn each of their previous four league games, while the visitors have seen their last two matches finish all square.

Barcelona 4-0 Sporting Huelva

Barcelona returned to winning ways at the weekend after playing out a 4-4 draw against Benfica in their final Champions League group game. Clàudia Pina put the hosts in front with a sensational free-kick, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner. Just six minutes later, Pina confidently dispatched her spot-kick to seal her brace and give Barcelona a two-goal cushion.

Caroline Graham Hansen added a third in the 78th minute, racing onto Mariona Caldentey’s defence-splitting pass, before chopping the ball onto her left foot and slotting past Zala Meršnik. Graham Hansen then turned provider to tee up Esmee Brugts, who swept the ball home from close range. Barcelona are still yet to drop a point in Liga F this season, ensuring they boast a nine point lead over Real Madrid at the top of the table.

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