The future challenges of women’s Barcelona after the Champions League final


  • After the defeat in Turin, the azulgranas want to sign another treble before thinking about reinforcing themselves, not only with signings, but on a physical and emotional level

The defeat against Olympique de Lyon in the final in Turin was as painful as the one in Budapest, or even more so due to the expectations generated. It could have seemed that Barça was going back to the box it was three years ago but, once the disappointment has passed, the azulgranas must value everything they have achieved this season and finish it on a high note. The self-criticism and the necessary improvements to try to get back to the continental final and win it will come later.

The scoreboard reflected a 0-3 after half an hour, almost the same as in Budapest, where Lyon placed a 0-4 in the blink of an eye. Although Turin’s first goal was a great goal, the other two showed unusual concentration errors that had already been seen before the first goal. The Catalans have had to learn to live this season with the pressure and hyper-expectation that they had managed well until now. But if the encouragement of 90,000 spectators gave them wings in the quarters and semifinals, the presence of 15,000 fans this time caused unforced errors that the experienced Olympique knew how to exploit. Johan Cruyff He said that more difficult than reaching the top was staying and now the other ‘dream team’ will have to learn to cope with the heavy sports and non-sports backpack.

Alexia explained in the preview that after Budapest they decided “train more, get in shape to be more competitive” when seeing the physical level of Olympique. Despite the improvement in this area, Lyon imposed their physical superiority also in the duels of the first half. “They are stronger, they anticipate”, acknowledged the Barça captain. “It’s a question of time, of squeezing together, improving all the infrastructures to have that rhythm. Something must be changed, she-she argued. As much as we train we need this competitive rhythm. And we don’t have this rhythm in our League”. The growth of Madrid can help in this area, although it must be taken into account that the Barcelona players had also been incontestable in the last two European courses, where they had only conceded two inconsequential defeats against the Manchester City Y wolfsburg before Turin.

After handing over the European crown, the Catalans have one last challenge before ending the season: sign another treble. After winning the Super Cup, the only title that eluded them last season, and signing the perfect League, with a full number of victories, they want to revalidate the Queen’s Cup. the block of Jonathan Giraldezwhich has only failed to win two games this year, will face Madrid in the semifinals on Wednesday.

After being crowned champion of Europe last season, Barça was reinforced with the arrival of Engen, Rolfo and Paredes. Three luxury reinforcements, the last two starting in Turin, and which allowed the level of the squad to rise. Looking ahead to the next campaign, the main objective was Vivianne Miedema, but the Dutch striker has renewed for Arsenal. Marie-Antoinette Katoto, PSG’s striker whose contract is ending, could be the star signing to try to dethrone Olympique again.



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