Barcelona Femeni get back on track with 9-0 rout over Hammarby in the Champions League

Barcelona Femeni righted the ship in the Champions League by steamrolling past Hammarby 9-0 at home.

Seven different players scored for Barcelona on their way to the win with Caroline Graham Hansen and Claudia Pina netting a brace.

However, things could have been different as Ingrid Engen's poor pass back to Cata Coll in the opening minute left the Hammarby forward alone on goal only for Coll to make a crucial save. With that scare out of the way, Barcelona calmed down before Graham Hansen opened the score.

It was a much better performance from Barcelona and perhaps their best of the season. One of the criticisms toward the team was their poor starts in the first half where it was a struggle to open the score despite their number of chances. This time they took their chances in the first half which calmed whatever nerves they could have had.

"This was a match where we and they started strongly," Pere Romeu said. "They were trying to get an early goal and we were prompted into producing a really good performance. We scored some good goals. It's hard to pick one, but Pina's second goal came from a set play we'd worked on previously. That's a pleasure."

Without Salma Paralluelo, Pina was given the start on the left wing and delivered and named Player of the Match. She associated well with Alexia Putellas and was opportune with her goals, being at the right place at the right time. The left wing is something Romeu is tinkering with to find the right player without Paralluelo and with Kika Nazareth still adapting.

"I thougt we started well, pressing high and trying to get the ball. From minute zero, we were intense and pressing them. It paid off," Pina said.

"Look, it's very easy to play with Alexia because she opens the pitch up and I love playing with her. It's true that we enjoyed ourselves linking up today."

Consistency is something Romeu wanted from his team and on this occasion, they demonstrated it.

"Overall, I'm very content with the match because we kept out level for 90-plus minutes. There were times when we had complete control but also moments when Hammarby tried to make it tough for us. To play like this and keep a clean sheet makes me happy," he said.

While it by no means covers the loss to Manchester City, it was important for Barcelona to get the win and to put in the type of performance Barcelona did. They were able to put the loss in the back of their minds and enjoy themselves on the pitch. The players' mentality is something Romeu highlighted as well.

"It's a mark of their champion mentality that they were ruthless when the game was won," he said. "Those already on the pitch need to keep insisting on what we've asked from them, keep trying to score, and those who come off the bench need to show what they've contributed. That's the mentality I want to see."

With the win, Barcelona move up to second place, three points behind Manchester City who needed a comeback in their win over St. Polten. Barcelona's next match is in Liga F when they travel to take on a depleted Levante side.