FC Barcelona vs Villarreal: 3 Points and Caroline Graham Hansen's Crazy Hattrick Comeback

The first game after the international break for FC Barcelona in Liga F did not disappoint. The Blaugrana club scored five goals past Villarreal, with Caroline Graham Hansen scoring a hattrick and a return from injury for herself, Ingrid Engen and Jana Fernandez.

With March 8th celebrated as International Women’s Day, the club presented a new official colour, ‘Lila Barça’. The colour developed in collaboration with Pantone will be at the forefront of the club’s initiatives revolving around International Women’s Day to strengthen the message ‘Equality is in our colours’. The players entered the pitch wearing armbands with the same slogan.

Photo during the Finetwork Liga F match between FC Barcelona Femeni and Villarreal CF at Estadi Johan Cruyff, Barcelona. Photo by Lina A.

And that wasn’t the only celebration for the club. FIFPRO Best XI players Mapi Leon, Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh and FIFA Best Player of the Year Alexia Putellas raised their trophies to the fans receiving the warmest support and appreciation from the supporters. Alexia Putellas won both FIFPRO Best XI and Best Player and received massive applause from the spectators at the stadium. With the pre-match celebrations out of the way, there were three possible comebacks in Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Engen and Jana Fernandez. All players were eligible for the game and were returning from long-term injuries.

First Half Action

Barca dominated the first half but could not convert the possession domination into goals. The deadlock finally broke in the 21st minute by Asisat Oshoala converting Claudia Pina’s header in the back of the net. Scoring her 19th league goal, Asisat Oshoala currently ties in the Pichichi race with Levante UD’s Alba Redondo.

Supporting Oshoala on the right flank was the former Villarreal player Salma Paraullelo, joining Barcelona in the summer. Paraullelo got in on the action against her former club before the end of the first half. Salma Paraullelo and Aitana Bonmati combine in a brilliant passage of play before slotting it home.

Second Half Action

Caroline Graham Hansen returned to the pitch four months after suffering an injury in the UWCL group stage match versus Rosengard in Sweden. From there on, it was Graham Hansen’s game. She controlled the show in the second half, making her comeback in style and demonstrating why she should be recognised as the best in the business. The Norwegian winger got rid of three defenders on the right flank and combined with Aitana Bonmati to score her first goal in the 70th minute. Graham Hansen again combines with Bonmati to score another goal in the 84th minute. To complete her phenomenal comeback, the Norwegian made a solo run into the box and made a clinical finish from a tight angle in the 90th minute.

Return from Injury

Ingrid Engen, who had been absent for two months owing to injury, returned to the pitch alongside Graham Hansen. However, massive applause and cheers reverberated throughout Estadi Johan Cruyff on the return of Jana Fernandez. The defender returned to the pitch after a year-long ACL injury. Following the return of these players, only Cata Coll, Alexia Putellas, and Mariona Caldentey remain out. Cata Coll has officially received her medical clearance however remained out of the team squad in the match against Villarreal. In the most crucial leg of the season, Barcelona coach Jonatan Giraldez will be happy to see the injury list get shorter by the day.

Villarreal will play Real Madrid in the week in the Copa de la Reina quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Barcelona, who have still to get a response to their appeal after playing an ineligible player in their last Cup de la Reina match against Osasuna, will prepare for their next league match against Levante UD on March 11th.