Madrid CFF 0-2 Barcelona: Liga F champions off to winning start

They say that it is not how you start but how you finish that matters. But sometimes, especially in football, the first premise is key. A good start marks the path. And Barcelona put in a good performance in Fuenlabrada -- a ground that is always complicated and with a pitch unworthy of professional competition -- to open the new Liga F season with a 2-0 victory over Madrid CFF thanks to goals from Caroline Graham Hansen and Asisat Oshoala.

Jonatan Giráldez started with a more surprising than predictable XI. Cata Coll took over the goal in the first matchday after a great World Cup, Engen took the injured Keira Walsh's positio, Alexia made her first start for Barça since her return from an ACL injury, and did so as a false '9', and Ona Batlle made her debut with the first team, six years after leaving La Masia.

The Catalan full-back was one of the best -- if not the best -- solid in defence, with key recoveries in midfield, and very active in attack. In the first half, Barça were particularly superior in terms of play and chances, but found it difficult to overcome a very low block from their opponents. 

Hansen

Mapi León, Aitana and Pina put in the crosses and Alexia and Hansen were in charge of finishing. The captain looked for the goal with her head more times than ever in her 400th game as a Culé and came close to scoring on several occasions. And the Norwegian, also after a couple of unsuccessful attempts, finally found the net just before the break, after a pass from Pina, with an elegant and subtle touch with the outside of her head. The '10' thus became the first goal scorer of the season; last year it was Geyse.

Víctor Martín changed his approach after the break. The Madrid coach decided to open up the field and propose more in attack. Kundananji, who scored a brace against Barça on the last matchday of last season, was more important in the second half, accompanied by Cristina Librán and Lucía Pardo. They struggled to create danger, however, and much of the that was because of Irene Paredes and Mapi León, who were much better at keeping a watchful eye on the Zambian striker. At no point was Cata Coll really threatened.

Oshoala

Giráldez shook up the bench to try out alternatives in a team that could not find the net but which looked fluid and dominant in the game. Oshoala came on as part of one of the changes and it didn't take long for her to do her job. All she had to do was put her foot down and push in a ball that Ona Batlle served her on a plate after a great move down the left to put the game beyond doubt.

There was time for breaks and minutes for the less regular players. Bruna Vilamala was able to play as a winger, and Esmee Brugts made her debut, who on the first ball she touched made a pass that almost ended in a goal. We are going to enjoy her this season.