How did Linda Caicedo perform in Real Madrid’s Liga F win over Betis?

Real Madrid delayed Barcelona’s Liga F title party on Sunday, beating Real Betis 3-1 in a game that saw Linda Caicedo brought off the bench to help Las Blancas to a come-from-behind win.

After Rinsola Babajide had given hosts Betis the lead on the hour mark, goals by Caroline Weir, Caroline Molle and Olga Carmona turned the scoreboard on its head in Seville, with Caicedo setting Molle up for the visitors’ second.

Caicedo speed plays part in Madrid turnaround

The Colombian was introduced early in the second half in place of Esther González, who did not enjoy her best game for Madrid. Playing on the left wing, Caicedo combined well with Sofie Svava and Weir to cause problems for the Betis defence. The 18-year-old twice had opportunities to score when goalkeeper Gaëlle Thalmann parried the ball in her direction, but was unable to take advantage.

Caicedo’s pace proved an important asset for Madrid and, after Weir’s quickfire equaliser, the teenager set Molle up to score the away side’s second, with seven minutes remaining at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis de Sol. In a fine piece of individual play, Caicedo drove towards the right-hand byline, before delivering a pinpoint cross that was headed in by the Dane.

Barcelona on verge of Spanish title

Carmona’s 89th-minute penalty then made sure of victory for Alberto Toril’s side, who are 13 points behind leaders Barça, with five games remaining in the Liga F season. Madrid’s next game sees them take on Villarreal in the Spanish capital on Sunday 23 April, with kick-off at 12 noon ET. Las Blancas must win to keep their slim title hopes alive - and Barça will be crowned champions regardless if the Catalans beat Sporting Huelva in their next match, on Sunday 30 April.

Having scored in Madrid’s previous outing, a 3-0 league triumph over Levante Las Planas, Caicedo is showing good form for her club in the closing stages of the season.

What’s coming up for Caicedo and Colombia?

After losing both games in their mini-European tour this month - Nelson Abadía’s team were beaten 5-2 by France and 2-1 by Italy - Colombia are next in action in the FIFA window between 10 and 18 July, ahead of the start of the Women’s World Cup. La Tricolor’s final World Cup warm-up opponents are yet to be confirmed.

At the 2023 World Cup, which is to be held in Australia and New Zealand, Colombia have been drawn in Group H with Germany, Morocco and South Korea. The Colombians will kick off their campaign against the Koreans on 24 July, before facing Germany three days later and closing out the group stage against Morocco on 3 August.