2-1: Madrid beat Vålerenga to edge closer to the Champions League Group Stage

Real Madrid came one step closer to clinching a place in this season's Women's Champions League Group Stage. Our team got the better of Vålerenga, with Zornoza opening the scoring early on, before the Norwegians hit back with 27 minutes on the clock. Rocío decided the game before half-time with a superb header and the madridistas deserved to leave the Di Stéfano with a greater advantage having created a glut of chances. The tie will be decided at Oslo's Intility Arena next Wednesday.

It was a bright start to the game, with the madridistas injecting the pace and quickly storming into the lead. Athenea's cross-shot from the left-hand side forced Tompkins into a tough stop and Zornoza was smart enough to beat the visiting defence to the rebound and turn home to make it 1-0. Athenea could have made it two with 10 minutes gone, but her shot flew narrowly wide of the target. Despite the madridistas' dominance, Vålerenga launched a lethal first counter-attack and levelled the game through Rogic 27’. Our team went straight back up the other end and could have retaken the lead on 35’ when Toletti's fine ball in behind found Brunn, whose powerful strike skimmed the outside of the post.

Rocío strikes for the second 
The first half wasn't over there though, as Toril's team got the reward their efforts merited prior to the break. Teresa's corner was whipped into the box, where Rocío rose spectacularly to put her side back in front. In the very next move, Brunn could have made it 3-1, but her reaction to the goalkeeper's parry was cleared off the line by Thorsnes. When the players emerged from the dressing rooms once more, Vålerenga began to cause problems for Misa, coming particularly close with one swift counter, but Löfwenius was unable to convert 63’. Madrid responded well, twice in quick succession. First, Linda's effort was kept out by Tompkins' impressive diving stop, before Teresa's shot from the edge of the box then whistled just by the post.

For the final 15 minutes, our team were the only one creating any chances of note. Kathellen's delightful piece of skill saw her come within inches of the left-hand post 77’, before M. Oroz had a sublime chance five minutes later, bringing down the ball on her chest and unleashing a fierce volley that cannoned back off the crossbar. The scores ultimately remained the same though and Real Madrid will have to seal qualification for the Women's Champions League Group Stage in Oslo at the Intility Arena next Wednesday. 
 
LINE-UPS
2-Real Madrid: Misa, Teresa, Rocío, Toletti Feller, 67’, Olga Svava, 84’, Bruun, Oihane Ivana, 67’, Kathellen, Linda C., Zornoza M. Oroz, 46’ and Athenea Raso, 84’.
1-Vålerenga: Tompkins, Kovacs, Pettersen, Vickius, Thorsnes, Tvedten Klech, 89’, Sigurdardóttir, Löfwenius, Tennebø, Bjelde and Rogic Brekken, 77’.

Goals:
1-0 min 4: Zornoza.
1-1 min. 27: Rogic.
2-1 min. 44: Rocío.