FC Barcelona advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and took first place in Group D. In the first round of the group phase, Barcelona lost 0-2 to Manchester City, but won 3-0 in the rematch after goals by Claudia Pina, Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas. Pajor was included in Barcelona's starting lineup. Although she did not score a goal, she finished the match with an assist for Bonmati's goal. However, Pajor was extremely ineffective and was unable to find a way against the Manchester City goalkeeper.
Thus, Pajor ends the group stage with four goals. The Pole scored a goal in the two-legged match against St. Polten, and then scored three times in two matches against Swedish Hammarby. One of the matches ended with a 3-0 win for Barcelona, and Pajor scored a double. “Goal scorer. She grabbed the dead ball for the first goal and finished the corner kick. She has goals at her fingertips. Her accurate eye allowed Barcelona to get three points. She was alert to catch the ball and open the scoring, then push the ball into the goal after the corner kick.” – wrote the Spanish media.
And how did Spanish journalists evaluate Pajor after the rematch with Manchester City?
The Spanish write directly about Ewa Pajor. “Brilliant striker”
The only ratings for Barcelona's players appeared in the Mundo Deportivo daily. When referring to Pajor, journalists used the adjective “brilliant”. “The Polish striker wasted as much energy as she was taking shots that, with a little more skill, would have allowed her to score several goals. This time it didn't work out. Still, this feisty attacking versatility was a nuisance for City. Pajor played a key role in a deft move and she assisted Aitana's goal,” we read in the article.
“Barcelona was effective at Montjuic. Not only did they beat City by two goals, but they also played the best match of the season,” writes the Catalan “Sport”, which draws attention to the form of Khiara Keating between City's goalposts. “There were no goals scored earlier because Keating – impressive in her defenses and irregular in her footwork – saved the team on four clear occasions. She had a fortune in store, including after Ewa Pajor's header,” add the Spanish media.
See also: One, two, three! Big match in Barcelona! What a hit with Manchester City. This is how Pajor played
“Barcelona showed Manchester City who rules at Montjuic. Pajor had further chances to score, but was clearly frustrated when her shot went just wide of the goal in the 86th minute,” wrote the Catalan “L'Esportiu”.
Barcelona will find out its opponent in the quarter-finals of the Champions League during the draw to be held on February 7 next year. Barcelona will play against Costa Adeje Tenerife in the 1/8 finals of the Queen's Cup (December 21), and then will return to the game only at the beginning of January against Real Sociedad.