Trailblazer | Part 21 | Magical Morera Inspires Free-Scoring Madrid CFF

Swedish manager Freja Holm led Madrid Club de Fútbol Femenino to its first major trophy, lifting the Spanish Cup against city rivals Atlético. An exciting young squad also racked up the club’s highest-ever finish to qualify for the Champions League for the first time. And that gave Holm the challenge of usurping a dominant Real Madrid.

Holm allowed a few of her older players to depart the club at the end of their contracts, freeing up around £9k on the club’s £38k weekly wage budget. Holm used that to dish out a mass of new contracts to her star youngsters and, after selling a few players for a £400k profit, she didn’t see the need to sign any players. Instead, she promoted goalkeeper Lidia Kvamme, exciting midfielders Camila Paviatto, Abril Gili and América Cuadra, and right back Heydi Peralta.

She did, however, consider tweaking her tactic to a more traditional 4-2-4. However, given Isabel Uueziua was the league’s top scorer from attacking midfield, that would have been an idiotic move. So she stuck with the 4-1-3-2 approach that dropped into a 4-5-1, built around the exciting attack of wide players Yolanda Lahuerta and Paula Puertas and strikers Olaia de Castro and Ana Morera.

Second Season in Spain

Madrid CFF remain third favourites for Liga FF, but their title odds were cut from 50/1 to 33/1. Holders Real Madrid are 4/11 favourites, along with Barcelona (11/4) and Atlético and Bilbao (50/1).

Madrid CFF had a pretty average pre-season, but hit the ground running as they kicked off Liga F with Uueziua, Lahuerta, Morera, wingback Valeria Flores Olvera and debutant Paviatto inspiring a 5-1 thumping of Getafe. They scored five again with Lahuerta at the double at Sevilla before wonderkid Morera bagged a brilliant hat trick to down Sociedad 3-2 and Puertas followed suit in a 6-1 win at Alavés.

A first big test of the season saw Barcelona come to town. The visitors obviously scored their first shot, but two brilliant pieces of play by Uueziua put the hosts in front before halftime. Barcelona scored straight after the break thanks to non-existent defending (of course) and they had to settle for a point. Four days later, another big match saw Madrid CFF host the holders. Holm switched up their approach to address Real’s dominance, moving to a 4-2-3-1, and it worked well as two Uueziua tap-ins had them 2-0 up at halftime. And Holm’s tactical surprise was enough to nullify the champions and claim a huge victory.

Madrid CFF built on those results by dominating Villarreal 4-1 and winning a 4-3 thriller against Atlético. Gili’s first senior goal edged a 2-1 win at Bilbao, and they went into the new year trailing Real by 1 point with two games in hand.

Madrid CFF’s Champions League Bow

Madrid CFF got their first taste of the Women’s Champions League in a qualifying tie against Sporting. And they recorded their biggest-ever win as six different players scored in a 7-0 thrashing before a fully rotated team drew 2-2 in Portugal, with homegrown centre back Pilar Andeme becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer aged 16 years 23 days.

That sent Madrid CFF into the league phase, which began with a tough test at home to FC Bayern, but Uueziua and de Castro strikes earned a solid point. Another German opponent followed and a late Morera strike nicked a 3-2 win at Union Berlin. Madrid CFF somehow allowed Nantes to score their first three shots. But Holm went for it and her attacking changes worked as a screamer by right back Olga Telna and a rare Linnea Rehnstrom goal sealed the comeback to deservedly win 4-3. They built on that by sneaking a 2-1 win at home to Brann and a heavily rotated side lost 4-1 at Spurs. But the reliable Uuezuia and a Morera penalty edged a 2-1 win at Montpellier that sent them through in an impressive 4th place, only behind Chelsea, Arsenal and Holm’s former club Leipzig.

That sent Madrid CFF into the quarter finals, where they again faced Spurs. Holm had to rotate a tired team for the trip to London and, despite Morera’s efforts with two goals, they lost 4-2. And a 3-2 defeat back in Spain sent them out, allowing Holm to focus on league matters.

Madrid Showdown for Liga F Title

Madrid CFF began 2043 with Lahuerta’s powerful strike eventually earning a 2-1 win at Sociedad after hitting the woodwork three times, which took them top as Real drew 0-0 at Tenerife. They won their first game in hand 5-0 at home to Badalona, with all of the front four scoring, and Uueziua nicked a 2-1 win at Coruna in the second to move them 9 points clear at the top.

However, they faced trips to the big two of Barcelona and Real in the next three games. A mini injury crisis preceded the Barcelona game, including Rehnstrom likely being ruled out for the season, and they lost 3-1. Two weeks later, Real scored their first shot and three of their first four to inflict another 3-1 defeat and reduce the gap at the top to just 3 points with eight games remaining. The good news was a four-week international break followed, allowing Holm to get players back fit.

That paid off as Morera scored and made one for Uueziua in a 4-1 domination of Coruna, scored both in a 2-0 win at home to Lleida and went one better with a perfect hat trick in a 6-1 thrashing of Europa. The strong form continued as Uueziua, de Castro and Paviatto’s late volley ensured a 3-0 win at home to Valencia and a stunning attacking display saw them rack up 36 shots en route to thrashing Bilbao 5-1 with goals by de Castro inside 25 seconds, Morera, Puertas and Lahuerta and two Olvera assists.

That teed up a two-way title battle with Madrid CFF leading Real Madrid by 3 points with three games remaining.

Matchday 28 – Atlético (5th, away): The toughest game remaining proved to be exactly that as, despite the front two of de Castro and Morera scoring good goals, their defence let them down and they slipped to a 3-2 defeat. Real won their 10th consecutive match to move level on points, which would give Madrid CFF a narrow edge on goal difference.

That big win took Madrid CFF back to the top of Liga F on results between teams, tied on points with Real heading into the 30th and final game of the season. Somewhat unfairly, Real’s European commitments meant they played their final game on the Wednesday before Madrid CFF’s trip to Badalona on Sunday 10 May. And the holders won 2-1 at Bilbao to pile the pressure on.

Matchday 30 – Badalona (10th, away): Holm finally had a clean bill of health for the biggest match in Madrid CFF history. Some of the pressure was lifted as de Castro won a freekick from kickoff and Morera stepped up to calmly curl into the top corner from 25 yards. Only for the defenders to not mark the lone striker and concede 6 minutes later. Madrid CFF dominated and soon went back in front as Puertas’ cross was headed home superbly by Morera. The hosts’ goalkeeper pulled off great saves from Morera and Uueziua and they went into the break 2-1 up. Morera had a goal ruled out for offsie before another great save from Puertas. And, predictably, they conceded completely against the run of play. But Morera simply would not have it, as Lahuerta’s corner was whipped into the near post for her to head in another hat trick and, just as Holm was killing the game off, Puertas’ wonderful throughball sent her through to smash home a fourth.

Madrid CFF won their maiden Liga F!

Madrid CFF won their maiden title by the narrowest of margins, just 3 goals. They finished level with Real on 79 points after 26 wins, 1 draw and 3 defeats, scoring a ridiculous 95 goals and conceding 38, and the teams had an equal head-to-head record (2-0 and 3-1). So Madrid CFF’s lethal attacking force was very much the key factor, as Morera topped the scoring chart with 28 goals followed by Uueziua with 19, while Puetas and Lahuerta were tied 11th on 11 goals. Piertas led the assists with a new league record 21 followed by Lahuerta with 16.

Celebrating Madrid CFF’s First Spanish Title

Jubilant scenes greeted Morera, Uueuziua, de Castro and co as the vast majority of Spain celebrated a club other than the big three winning the national title. Holm knew she had a special squad of players, but they’d delivered beyond her wildest dreams this season. And it was very much her deadly attacking quintet that did the damage, combining for 116 goals and 69 assists in 177 matches.

The magical Morera, who in Holm’s eyes was the best player in the world right now, led the way with an incredible 35 goals, 9 assists and a 7.56 rating from 38 games. Uueziua was again exceptional with 22 goals and 7 assists and Puertas was unbelievable with 13 goals and 25 assists and Lahuerta wasn’t far behind with 13 goals and 19 assists. de Castro, now 30, chipped in with 13 goals and 9 assists, along with Daniela Cerdá’s 6 goals from centre back, Paviatto’s 6 goals and 4 assists and Telna’s 3 goals and 9 assists from right back.

With the Spanish title added to those won in Italy, Japan, France, USA and Wales, Holm knew that her time in Spain was up. So, with a bit of a heavy heart at leaving behind this special squad of girls, she tendered her resignation after the chaos of the celebrations had died down a little. Holm departs Madrid CFF after 79 games, of which she won 59 (74% win ratio), drew 5 and lost 15, scoring 229 and conceding 107.

Where would Holm end up next as she went in search of the 7th of 11 titles in her Trailblazer quest? Join us on Monday to find out!