After a strong start: Eintracht women lose to Barcelona
Eintracht Frankfurt's women's soccer team missed out on a coup against FC Barcelona in the Champions League. Coach Niko Arnautis' team lost 3:1 (1:0) to the defending champions after a strong first half.
National striker Laura Freigang had even put the Bundesliga club ahead in the 42nd minute in front of 16,100 spectators at Deutsche Bank Park. After the break, however, Salma Paralluelo (48th/62nd) and Mariona Caldentey (59th) scored for the Spanish record champions.
Frankfurt, who won 2-1 at FC Rosengard in Sweden to open their campaign, are now hoping to pick up more points on December 13 at Benfica Lisbon after their home debut in the group stage. Barcelona began with the composure of a team that has not conceded a point in any of its ten competitive matches this season. They had won 5-0 against Lisbon and then the same result against Real Madrid in the Spanish league on Sunday.
Barça women turn up the heat after the break
The majority of the favorites' attacks ran through world champion and Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí, especially as Alexia Putellas was missing through injury. However, the Eintracht defense around Sara Doorsoun defended with great concentration. Even young star Paralluelo was initially hardly given a chance against Pia-Sophie Wolter on the left wing. Apart from a few harmless shots on goal from both sides, nothing happened for a long time. But then Freigang headed home a cross from Verena Hanshaw to take the lead.
Shortly before, Nicole Anyomi had already tested goalkeeper Sandra Paños. With temperatures hovering around freezing, the Barça women then turned up the heat after the break. Paralluelo made it 1-1 from close range before the hosts conceded two more goals.
Just over three years after taking over former European Cup winners 1. FFC Frankfurt, Eintracht will play for the first time for a place in the quarter-finals. German champions FC Bayern Munich will face Paris Saint-Germain this Thursday, while VfL Wolfsburg had previously been eliminated.
Despite Eintracht Frankfurt's strong performance in the first half, their women's team struggled to maintain their lead in the Champions League against FC Barcelona. In the second half, Barcelona's Women's team, led by Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, turned up the heat, with Salma Paralluelo scoring two goals and Mariona Caldentey securing a 3-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt, who had earlier celebrated a goal by National striker Laura Freigang.
In the upcoming December 13 match at Benfica Lisbon, Eintracht Frankfurt's women's team hopes to gain more points and improve their position in the group stage, while FC Barcelona, unbeaten in their ten competitive matches this season, will look to continue their winning streak in the Champions League.
Source: www.dpa.com
