The Barcelona women's team started the group stage of the Champions League with a 2-0 defeat Manchester City. It was the team's first defeat since April, when Barcelona lost 0-1 Chelsea in the semi-finals of this competition in the 23/24 season. Then Barcelona won 9-0 against Hammarby and 7-0 against St. Polten, and Ewa scored two goals in these matches Pajor. Apart from the mentioned clash with Man City, Barcelona has not lost a single match this season, including domestic and European competitions.
On Thursday, Barcelona started the return round in the Champions League group stage with an away match against St. Polten. In this match, Barcelona coach Pere Romeu focused on the offensive trio of Caroline Graham – Kika Nazareth – Alexia Putellas, so Pajor had to wait for her chance only in the second half. So far, she has recorded very good numbers – she scored eleven goals in twelve matches.
Despite the absence of Pajor in the starting line-up, Barcelona coped with their rivals from Austria without any major problems.
Barcelona's sure win in the Champions League. Pajor came on in the second half
Barcelona had a clear advantage in possession of the ball and in the number of chances created. If St. Polten tried to respond to Barcelona, ​​mainly through counter-attacks. Nazareth turned out to be Barcelona's hero in the first half, completing the double in eight minutes. First, the Portuguese took the ball from her opponent in the St. Paul's penalty area. Polten beat the goalkeeper, then cleverly turned around in the penalty area and shot at the near post.
After 31 minutes it was 3-0. First, Patricia Guijarro played the ball with her heel on the edge of the penalty area, and then Vicky Lopez ran in front of one of the opponents and increased Barcelona's lead with a strong shot under the crossbar. In the 45th minute, Barcelona could have been winning 4-0, but Hansen shot straight into the middle, where the St. goalkeeper was standing. Polten. There was no indication that there might be a surprise in this match.
From the 57th minute, Barcelona was leading 4-0 when Putellas scored after an impressive feint in the penalty area. Two minutes later, Barcelona were surprised by a free kick. One of the players from St. Polten played flat into the penalty area, and Valentina Madl was the best player there, beating Cata Coll from close range. In the 75th minute, the Austrians could have scored a goal to make it 2:4, but Sarah Mattner-Trembleau shot just past the right post.
Ewa Pajor was on the pitch from the 65th minute she came in in place of Guijarro. However, it cannot be said that it significantly influenced Barcelona's actions on the field. Pajor tried to show her teammates, but she had just over ten touches with the ball.
Her loss in the 81st minute resulted in a counter-attack for St. Polten, however, did not end with a shot on Barcelona's goal. In the 90th minute, Pajor could have taken advantage of the confusion in the penalty area and scored a goal from close range, but Tea Vracević prevented her from shooting.
Currently, Barcelona is in second place with nine points and a goal balance of 19:2. Manchester City remains the leader with all points. Barcelona is defending the title from last season and is fighting to win this competition for the fourth time in history.