There was some top-class women’s football action across Europe’s top five leagues this weekend.
Here’s what we made of it all.
🇪🇸 Graham Hansen the difference-maker, Real Madrid golazo contest
Barcelona ran out 4-1 winners over Real Betis to extend their lead at the top of Liga F on Saturday, with Caroline Graham Hansen delivering a brace to put the game beyond any doubt.
Her goals were both simple finishes to cap off some superb team play in both instances, yet the Norway international’s influence on Barça’s success must not be underestimated.
Graham Hansen now has a total of 13 goal contributions (seven goals and six assists) in 12 matches, the joint-most in the league alongside team-mate Alexia Putellas.
Also leading the league in key passes (37) and passes into the penalty area (28), it’s clear that the Oslo native poses a huge threat to any opponent.
And while Graham Hansen is taking care of business, it wouldn’t be Barcelona without a bit of magic.
Full-back Ona Batlle got herself on the scoresheet with a stunning strike, but how about that assist from Aitana Bonmatí?
Meanwhile, Real Madrid decided to host their own Goal of the Month competition within the space of one match, as they beat Sevilla 4-1.
All four of Madrid’s top strikes came within the first half, as they went in at the break having essentially got the job done.
Perhaps the pick of the bunch was this hit from distance by Signe Bruun on the stroke of half-time.
Or was it this exquisite curling effort from Linda Caicedo?
Real Madrid finished the day nine points behind league leaders Barcelona, albeit with a game in hand on their rivals.
🇫🇷 Honours even in Paris derby, Dumornay stars again
While PSG are sitting three points behind leaders Lyon in the Première Ligue table, they will also be looking over their shoulder at cross-city rivals Paris FC, who are four points behind them in third.
PSG failed to put more of a gap between them on Saturday, as the derby ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
After PSG had put themselves ahead with a scruffy opener, Paris FC fought back to earn the point as the league’s top scorer Clara Matéo beat Mary Earps with an 87th minute equaliser.
Meanwhile, a brace from Melchie Dumornay helped Lyon see off an in-form Reims side, with the 21-year-old now third in the league’s top scorers with eight goals to her name.
The Haiti international now has a total of 10 goal involvements in domestic action this season, behind only Julie Dufour (Paris FC, 11), Lynsey Horan (Lyon, 12) and Clara Matéo (Paris FC, 13) in the table.
🇩🇪 Audacious Stanway strike punishes Essen gamble
If the match is in injury time and you’re only 1-0 down to Bayern Munich, it makes sense that you’d send your goalkeeper up to attack a late free-kick just outside the box.
Yet the fact Bayern have Georgia Stanway always ready to strike from distance maybe should’ve made them think twice.
Indeed, Essen were punished for their late gamble when the Frauen-Bundesliga leaders won the ball back in their own box and delivered the ball to Stanway.
You can guess what happened next.
Stanway now has five goals and three assists to her name in the league this season, and also leads in passes into the final third of the pitch (90), progressive passes (82) and is second in the league in terms of touches (984).
Not the player that Essen wanted the ball to fall to.
The win was important for Bayern, as they are now neck-and-neck at the top of the table with Leverkusen, who delivered a 1-0 win over Wolfsburg, who sit one point behind the top two in third place.
🇮🇹 Milan derby makes history, Juve leave it late
Sunday saw the first ever women’s Derby della Madonnina held at San Siro, making history in what is always a special fixture between Milan’s two sides.
And what a time for Inter’s Elisa Bartoli to score her first goal for the club than at the historic Scala del Calcio.
Milan found their way back thanks to Nadia Nadiym – who also scored her first goal for her club – as she finished low into the net from inside the box.
Meanwhile Juventus looked to be heading for a 2-2 draw with Lazio, before goalkeeper Sara Cetinja came rushing out of her box, allowing experienced Bianconere forward Barbara Bonansea to head home a 90th minute winner.
That win saw Juve pull six points clear of Fiorentina at the top of the table.
🏴 Big wins for top sides as West Ham mount incredible comeback
Sunday’s WSL action saw goals flying in from everywhere, with a total of 28 goals scored across six matches.
There were heavy wins for Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, but the biggest story of the day came courtesy of West Ham and Crystal Palace. You can read a recap of all the action here.
Newly-promoted Palace raced into a 2-0 lead after just 11 minutes, but three goals in quick succession saw West Ham regain the lead before the half-time whistle had even blown.
By the end of the game, the Hammers had put five past their opponents, making a great start from Palace feel like a distant memory.
Brighton made Chelsea work hard for their 4-2 win, but it seems that the Blues are pretty unstoppable under Sonia Bompastor.
Her record of 13 wins from as many games in all competitions breaks predecessor Emma Hayes’ run of 12 consecutive wins, and with nine from nine in the league, the former Lyon boss has equaled the record for most consecutive WSL matches at the start of the season.
Next weekend sees Fiorentina host rivals Juventus in Serie A, while in Liga F Barcelona travel to Valencia and in the WSL struggling Liverpool are at home to Arsenal.
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