Liga F match-day 18 round-up: Caroline Weir gets Real Madrid over the line in six-goal thriller

Real Madrid were made to work hard for the three points in their thrilling away clash against Deportivo La Coruña on Liga F match-day 18.

Elsewhere, DUX Logroño boosted their survival hopes with their first league win of the season. Here’s how the latest round of results in Spain’s top flight unfolded.

Caroline Weir fires Real Madrid to dramatic win

Real Madrid found themselves behind in the 15th minute of Sunday’s meeting with Deportivo at Riazor. Lucía Martínez produced a powerful header to grab her first Liga F goal. Las Blancas quickly responded through Rocío Gálvez, before Signe Bruun turned the ball in from Athenea del Castillo’s low pass.

Dépor were behind for a matter of minutes before Esperanza Pizarro headed in her third goal in two games. The scoreline remained level until goalkeeper Inês Pereira gave away a penalty with just over 15 minutes remaining. The reliable Caroline Weir kept her cool from the spot to put her side ahead.

The visitors were awarded another spot-kick in the closing stages, allowing Weir the chance to slot home her second of the game, taking her to nine league goals for the season.

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DUX Logroño end long wait for victory

DUX Logroño moved out of the bottom two after they thrashed Alhama on Saturday. Isina netted a first half penalty to give the hosts a slender lead at the break. Salomé Prat added a second just past the hour mark, before Logroño scored twice in the final 15 minutes.

Iria Castro hooked the ball in at the near-post after meeting a free-kick, shortly before Ximena Velazco thumped a bouncing ball into the far corner. As a result of the win, Logroño are sitting above Alhama on goal difference and one point clear of basement side Levante.

Kika stars on Liga F match-day 18

Kika Nazareth was the standout performer in Barcelona’s home clash with Sevilla, netting a brace to take her tally to six Liga F goals for the season. With her back to goal and contending with a narrow angle, Nazareth managed to hook the ball over Esther Sullastres and in at the far post.

Sydney Schertenleib and Salma Paralluelo netted either side of the half-time interval, before Nazareth added her second and Barcelona’s fourth. The Portugal international neatly cushioned Alexia Putellas’s pass and drilled a left-foot shot beyond outstretched Sullastres. The only disappointment for the hosts was that they were denied another clean sheet by a late Alba Cerrato effort.

Athletic clinch another home win

Athletic claimed all three points in their meeting with Espanyol despite seeing Nerea Nevado’s first-half penalty saved. Clara Pinedo went on to net the opener in the early stages of the second period, before Espanyol were given the chance to respond from the penalty spot after the referee spotted a foul in the box. Laia Ballesté shouldered the responsibility to fire her penalty out of Olatz Santana’s reach.

Unfortunately for the visitors, they left Lezama empty-handed after Anna Torrodà inadvertently diverted the ball past her own goalkeeper in the 86th minute. The late own goal sealed Athletic’s third win in four home games.

Badalona, Levante seal narrow victories

Elsewhere, Eibar’s Laura Camino netted the only goal of the first half of Sunday’s away clash with Badalona. Irina Uribe hit back within 10 minutes of the restart, but Badalona were soon dealt a blow when María Llompart was dismissed for two bookable offences. To the visitors’ credit, they handled the setback superbly and managed to snatch a winner through Cristina Cubedo. The defender rose high to meet a deep corner and send a downward header into the net. Eibar’s disappointing outing was compounded when Carla Andrés was shown a second yellow in stoppage time.

Like Athletic and Badalona, relegation-threatened Levante picked up a 2-1 victory on match-day 18. The league’s bottom side had to come from behind after Madrid CFF’s Anita Marcos netted a 21st-minute opener. Eva Alonso headed in an equaliser with just over a quarter of the game to play to set up a grandstand finish. The hosts completed the turnaround when Érika González produced a stunning first-time strike from distance to net her fifth league goal of the season.

Unfortunately for Levante, the victory was overshadowed by a serious injury sustained by Érika just minutes after her winner. The club have sinced confirmed that their star player will miss the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament and lateral meniscus injury.

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Atleti’s woes continue

Atlético Madrid’s poor run of form continued with a frustrating 1-1 draw against Granada. Synne Jensen tapped in the opening goal in Atleti’s first outing since Víctor Martín was sacked as head coach. However, Jensen’s effort was swiftly cancelled out by Andrea Gómez. The 22-year-old slotted her shot under the goalkeeper after being sent through on goal by Laura Pérez’s deft pass. As a result of the draw, fifth-placed Atleti remain 10 points adrift of the top three.

Meanwhile, the spoils were shared in Sunday’s meeting between fourth-placed Tenerife and Real Sociedad in third. Tenerife’s Iratxe Pérez netted an early opener, cleverly turning her marker to create the room to drill a low shot past Alazne Estensoro. As the game neared the half-hour mark, Nahia Aparicio produced an impressive finish of her own. The 22-year-old’s superb first touch created the space on the edge of the box to send her reverse shot out of the goalkeeper’s reach. The draw ensured La Real maintained their eight-point cushion to Tenerife.