HB Koge 0-8 Barcelona Femení: Barça cruise to dominant Champions League win
Renato Gonçalves Renato Goncalves is the deputy manager of Barca Blaugranes and has been writing for the site since all the way back in 2014. He's a massive sports fan and has been crazy about Barcelona ever since Rivaldo scored that bicycle kick in 2001.
Barcelona Femení remain perfect in the league phase of this season's Champions League and sit all alone at the top of the table thanks to a dominant 8-0 away to HB Koge in Denmark on Thursday night. Barça cruised to a very comfortable victory on the road with a strong display, and have made it three wins out of three in Europe to take another big step towards a place in the Top 4 and an automatic spot in the quarter-finals.
Barça dominated the game from the very start, with over 70% possession for most of it and several big chances. The Koge defense needed to make several last-ditch tackles and blocks, but a penalty on Claudia Pina after a VAR review led to the opening goal as Caroline Graham Hansen found the net from the spot.
The visitors doubled their lead shortly after the half-hour mark thanks to an assist by Pina and a good finish from Ewa Pajor, and Barça could have easily scored another two or three goals if not for a few big blocks and saves by the Koge backline. Barça were comfortably ahead at halftime, and hungry for more goals in the final period.
The third goal came after a beautiful passing sequence down the right wing, and Sydney Schertenleib's cross found the head of Esmee Brugts at the far post; Patri Guijarro then scored a nice backheel after a scramble inside the box following a corner, and Clara Serrajordi scored a beauty from long range to make it 5-0. Coach Pere Romeu was able to make early substitutions to rest some of his veteran stars, but Barça didn't stop attacking and Kika Nazareth came off the bench to score the sixth with her first touch of the game.
The seventh came from Pina, who finally scored her goal after being quickest to the rebound from a block by the Koge keeper. Pina was not done and doubled her tally with a very good finish inside the box, and Barça made it 8-0 on the night.
The final whistle came to end a very good and very easy night for the reigning European champions, who are still perfect in the league phase and looked unstoppable once again. Barça continue to evolve and improve after a summer of big change, and they are looking like main title favorites once again.