Real Madrid beat Wolfsburg in Women’s Champions League
| Caicedo Show | Angel Martinez/Getty Images |
Both teams created clear-cut chances inside the first five minutes. The hosts went close with Caroline Weir’s effort from range and Alba Redondo’s blocked shot from much closer. Ella Peddemors, who scored three goals in the Champions League, forced Misa Rodríguez to her first save of the game from a set-piece play.
At the other end, the hosts opened the score from a corner-kick in the 19th minute. María Méndez guided Eva Navarro’s delivery to the net with her shoulder. Linda Caicedo nearly doubled Real Madrid’s lead with a solo run, but Stina Johannes scrambled for an unconvincing save. Wolfsburg continued to struggle to defend Navarro’s set-pieces, but Redondo was denied by the woodwork five minutes before half-time.
A couple of minutes later, Navarro even tried to score directly from a corner-kick, but Johannes eventually made the stop. Despite seeing much of the ball, Wolfsburg had very little going for them in the final third.
However, they went into the dressing room fancying their chances as Maëlle Lakrar saw two yellow cards in the space of five minutes. Rodríguez even had to make a save in the last action of the half to deny Janina Minge after the red card to the French international.
The hosts had to follow a cautious approach in the second-half as experienced center-back Rocío Gálvez came in place of Redondo. Wolfsburg showed signs of improvement after the restart, but Johannes had to make another save to thwart the Colombian ace Caicedo.
Caicedo wasn’t going to be denied for the third time, though. She beat Caitlin Dijkstra for pace to reach into Weir’s inviting through pass before rounding Johannes and scoring into an empty net.
Wolfsburg did very little in the closing stage, and Johannes suffered a nose injury in the 90th minute. After a VAR check, 18-year-old Iris Santiago Garrido saw a straight red card for her dangerous attempt at playing the ball.
The Frauen-Bundesliga side will entertain Chelsea in the final matchday of the league phase next week. Stephan Lerch’s side dropped outside the top four after their second defeat of the European campaign.
