Below are my immediate thoughts on the game. Player ratings and post-match pod to follow.
Real Madrid Femenino burst out of the gates pressing with a ferocious intensity. Aurélie Kaci stepped up alongside Kosovare Asllani in a 4-4-2 structure and harried Real Sociedad’s center-backs into early mistakes, creating a nice counter-attacking action that saw Asllani’s attempt off the cut-back saved.
There was a positive general synergy flowing throughout the team in the opening minutes. As Real Sociedad tried to figure out how to establish their possession game, Las Blancas thrived in transition. In the 11th minute, Cardona was unleashed down the right and she cut inside past two players to curl an absolute pearler from distance.