Real Sociedad stun Barcelona, Atlético run riot against Alhama

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General view inside Real Sociedad’s Reale Arena on August 18, 2024 (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Real Sociedad pulled off a surprise result in their home meeting with reigning Liga F champions Barcelona. The Basque side clinched a 1-0 victory to condemn Pere Romeu’s side to their first defeat of the season.

Here’s how the latest round of Liga F results unfolded.

Real Sociedad claim memorable win

The prolific Edna Imade scored the decisive goal in Real Sociedad’s 1-0 success against Barcelona. Laia Aleixandri was penalised for a handball in the box, presenting Imade with the chance to go to the penalty spot. The striker slotted her spot-kick past Cata Coll to score her seventh Liga F goal of the season.

Trailing at the break, Barcelona searched desperately for an equaliser in the second half and thought they had finally broken Real Sociedad’s resistance when Martine Fenger headed home in stoppage time. However, the goal was chalked off for offside following a lengthy review. The disallowed effort ensured Barcelona suffered their first defeat since their loss to Arsenal in May’s Women’s Champions League final.

Three more narrow wins

In addition to Real Sociedad, three other teams prevailed by 1-0 scorelines in the recent round of Liga F fixtures. Second-placed Real Madrid were among those who picked up a narrow victory. A Simona Botero own goal proved enough for Las Blancas to leave Catalonia with three points. Sara Däbritz’s attempt clip to the far post deflected in off the Espanyol defender in the closing stages of the first period. Real Madrid were unable to add to their tally, but crucially, they stood strong at the back to seal a sixth consecutive victory in all competitions.

Granada’s Sonya Keefe continued her fine form in her team’s successful away game against Madrid CFF. The Chile international drove the ball in from Laura Pérez’s cutback to break the deadlock in the 36th minute. Madrid CFF hit the post in the second period, but they could not find a way past Granada goalkeeper Laura Sanchez.

We conclude the flurry of 1-0 victories with Eibar’s home success against Deportivo La Coruña. Sara Martín scored the decisive goal in the 48th minute. The forward steered the ball in at the near post after meeting Ane Etxezarreta’s delivery from the right flank. As a result of the defeat, Deportivo have now gone six matches without a win since beating Athletic Club in September.

Atlético thrash Alhama

Atlético Madrid made light work of bypassing Alhama at the weekend. Synne Jensen guided the ball in from Amaiur Sarriegi’s neat cut-back to open the scoring. The Finland international then added a second from Luany’s squared ball to put Atleti in full control at the break. The hosts made an electric start to the second half to add two more goals to their tally before the hour mark. Gabriela García powered home a header to score in back-to-back league games. Luany then provided her second assist of the match for Fiamma to wrap up the 4-0 triumph.

Costa Adeje Tenerife prevail in thriller

Costa Adeje Tenerife moved into fifth spot with a 4-2 win over Levante. Carlota Suárez headed in from a corner, before Tenerife were pegged back by an own goal. Natalia Ramos restored Tenerife’s lead from a 63rd-minute penalty, only for Érika González to score a penalty of her own to score Levante’s second equaliser of the game. At that stage, Levante thought they had done enough to rescue a 2-2 draw.

As it proved, Levante were unable to contend with the home side’s late onslaught. Sandra Castelló steered a header home from Ramos’s deep corner in the ninth minute of stoppage time. Five minutes later, Tenerife were awarded their second penalty of the game following Sandra Castelló’s clumsy challenge. Iratxe stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and wrap up an exciting victory.

Athletic frustrated in one of two goalless draws

Athletic may have finished in fourth spot last term, but they are currently embroiled in a relegation battle following a poor start to the season. Their winless start extended to nine Liga F matches with a goalless draw against newly-promoted DUX Logroño, who are just inside the relegation zone and a point behind Athletic.

Like Athletic and Logroño, Badalona and Sevilla played out a goalless affair on matchday nine. The hosts were forced to play just over 25 minutes with 10 players following Estefanía Banini’s dismissal. The Argentina international was ruled to have elbowed Rosa Márquez. Fortunately for Badalona, the red card did not prove costly as they saw out the remainder of the contest to pick up a point and extend their unbeaten run to three matches.

Best Liga F goal of matchday nine

We have picked Sara Martín’s winner against Deportivo as the goal of the weekend. The 21-year-old made a potentially awkward finish look easy at Ipurua. Martín got in front of her defender and managed to hook the ball in at the near post to register her first Liga F goal.