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FC Barcelona Women’s team is unstoppable in La Liga F

October 19, 2023

Do you remember the unbeatable team who dominated the school yard? Every day you went to play against them, excited and thinking: “Today is the day”, but it never was. Then, you tried to change the teams to make it more even, but they always refused. That’s not even the worst part, if someone on your team played well, the next day he/she will be on their team, tearing you apart without any mercy.

That’s FC Barcelona Women’s team in their national league, La Liga F.

Since 2019, they only lost two games in the league, winning four La Liga F titles in a row, scoring an astonishing 530 goals, conceding only 42 and winning 110 out of 115 games.

They have even managed to remain unbeaten in two of the last four seasons. In 2021-2022, they enjoyed a perfect season: 30 wins in 30 games, plus a goal difference of +148. This is some ridiculous dominance.

FC Barcelona lifting the 2021-2022 La Liga F trophy – by Carla Cidón

Carla Cidón, journalist for Spanish media Iniestazo, working as Barça’s Women photographer, gave an insight into how the team’s mentality helps push them forward: “They only want to win. That mentality is what made them invincible in almost every competition, mostly in the league.”

Now Barça’s women are looking to win the fifth league in a row, starting with five wins in five games. They have already overcome multiple hurdles, the first one on their opening game, winning against the only team in La Liga F that managed to beat them last year.

Madrid CFF fought hard, fighting for every ball in an evenly matched game. Barça dominated the ball, with 64% of the ball possession, trying to attack and pressure constantly, with a total of 24 shots and 14 corner kicks. Madrid had their chances in the counterattacks, even if they were mostly focused on winning the ground and aerials duels. Thanks to goals from Graham Hansen and Lamina Oshoala, las culers were able to take the three points.

Lamina Oshoala celebrating after scoring a hat-trick against Real Betis in 2023 – by Carla Cidón

Another tough match came last week, on Sunday against Atlético de Madrid at Centro Deportivo Cívitas Alcalá de Henares. Barça’s domination of the ball and pressing intensity was rewarded with a 1-0 win.

The goalscorer was none other than two-time Ballon d’Or winner, Alexia Putellas. Just six minutes after the start of the second half, Alexia made history for the club she has been a lifelong fan of. The striker scored her 182nd goal in a Barça jersey, becoming the top scorer in FC Barcelona Women’s history.

Alexia Putellas showing her second Ballon d’Or to Barça fans – by Carla Cidón

Putellas talked to Mundo Deportivo after the game, saying, “I’ve just been told, I didn’t really remember. I’m happy, especially with the three points because on this pitch they’re going to lose very few points.”

Former coach and treble winner, Lluís Cortés, had some words to enhance Putellas’ figure: “We have to go beyond statistics, and value what Alexia brings to the game”.

Alexia Putellas with the league trophy in 2022 – by Carla Cidón

Despite this historic goal, the script of the game did not change from the first half. The blaugranas found the opposition goal more, but without really creating any real danger. In fact, the Madrilenians almost scored the equalizer in the final minutes. Cata Coll had to intervene to stop a one-on-one with Shelia Guijarro in the 88th minute.

This weekend, on Saturday, they face Granada Women’s team at home. Even if they aren’t at the top of the league, they are always a dangerous opponent. Can the team coached by Jonatan Giráldez keep their league record unbeaten once again?

Jonatan Giráldez in a training session before a match against Hoffenheim – by Carla Cidón

In Women’s Champions League, they are also dominant, but not as much as Olympique de Lyon. The French squad has the most titles by far, with seven Champions League since 2010-2011. Lyon managed to win four titles in a row between 2015-2016 and 2018-2019. The latter, dominating 4-1 against Barça.

Last year, Barça had an amazing run, winning the trophy with 9 wins in 11 games. In these European matches, they scored 40 goals and conceded only 10. They have won two Champions League in the last three years, losing another final against Lyon (1-3) in 2022.

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What’s more, in the 2023 Final against VFL Wolfsburg, they started the game losing 2-0 in the 37th minute. Suddenly, flashbacks from the 2022 Final against Lyon were disturbing the blaugranas.

“German teams can be difficult for Barça, German football is more physical and less tactical than Spanish football.” Carla added, “The defeats against Lyon in 2019 and 2022 led them to be a lot stronger, both physically and mentally.”.

With 2 goals by Patri Guijarro in the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half, Barça’s women showed their motivation, their courage and mostly their desire to lift that Champions League trophy for the second time. Sweden’s Fridolina Rolfö scored the winning goal in the 70th minute to lead her team to European glory.

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The Women’s Champions’ League group stage draw is on Friday 20th October, as title holders, Barça are in Pot 1, entering directly with Chelsea, Bayern München and Olympique de Lyon, obviously.

Could we possibly see another Barça versus Lyon in the final?

Author

  • Òscar Llopis I Balanyà

    23-year-old sports journalist, fluent in French, Catalan and Spanish. I am a football addict, who’s also interested in basketball and futsal. Above all, I’m a Barça lover and the biggest Messi fan in the world! If you have any exciting information or questions to ask, don’t hesitate to contact me!