Importance Score: 60 / 100 🔵
Even in what some might consider their “worst season,” Barcelona Women’s team is pursuing an impressive feat: a second consecutive quadruple and their fourth straight Women’s Champions League title. This remarkable ambition faced skepticism late last year when a defeat against Manchester City ignited doubts, suggesting this might be the season they wouldn’t secure any silverware.
Barcelona’s Pursuit of Champions League Glory
Ultimately, they clinched the Liga F title, though not without encountering a rare setback of two defeats. While seemingly minor, this marked the first time since the 2018-19 season that they have lost more than once in league play, signaling a potential crisis. The loss to Manchester City also instigated introspection for a team adjusting to a new manager, Pere Romeu, who succeeded Jonatan Giráldez the previous summer.
Caroline Graham Hansen, the Barcelona winger, described the season as “emotional.” She elaborated, “We lost a couple of more games than we’re used to, and some losses were particularly painful. While we weren’t at our best, I felt the criticism was somewhat excessive considering our actual performance.”
She continued, “Our performance around the time of the City defeat wasn’t adequate, and everyone acknowledged it. We addressed it individually and as a team, striving to improve since then. We aim to peak when it truly matters, and we’ve delivered in crucial moments. We hope to conclude the season on a high note.”
Dominating Performances in Key Matches
Hansen’s assessment of performing when it mattered might be an understatement. Barcelona Women’s team decimated Wolfsburg with a staggering 10-2 aggregate victory in the Champions League quarter-finals before overwhelming a revitalized Chelsea, who were previously undefeated in the WSL, with an 8-2 aggregate score in the semi-finals.
“We never tire of winning,” Hansen affirmed. “While we recognize the impossibility of perpetual victory, we begin each season with the ambition of repeating our past successes. However, the second time is invariably more challenging.”
Facing Arsenal in the Final
In the upcoming final on Saturday, they will confront Arsenal, a familiar opponent they haven’t encountered since 2021. Arsenal shares a similar football philosophy, characterized by possession-based, Dutch-inspired tactics.
“Arsenal is a formidable team,” Hansen acknowledged. “They also prefer to dominate possession, but I anticipate we will have the greater share. However, they are strong, so I might be mistaken. Time will tell.”
Key Players and Tactical Adjustments
Among the top four goalscorers in the Champions League, two represent Barcelona, namely Clàudia Pina with 10 goals and Ewa Pajor with six. Arsenal also has two representatives, Alessia Russo and Mariona Caldentey, each with seven goals. Barcelona Women’s team enters as the favorite. Yet Arsenal’s semi-final triumph against Lyon – securing a 4-1 away victory after a home defeat – underscores their resilience as underdogs.
“It’s refreshing to face a new opponent in the final,” Hansen remarked. “Arsenal has demonstrated high standards in the Champions League, and it promises to be a difficult match. Finals require unwavering commitment and heart, with the superior team on the day emerging victorious. Finals are never straightforward, but that’s what makes them exciting.”
Aside from the managerial transition, the arrival of Polish forward Pajor marked the most significant change for the club. The departures of Jenni Hermoso and Asisat Oshoala had left Barcelona Women’s team without a recognized No. 9, relying on goals from other areas of the pitch.
Pajor’s Impact and Romeu’s Leadership
Players such as Graham Hansen, Alexia Putellas, and Caldentey were tasked with increasing their goal contributions. However, the addition of Pajor has reshaped the team’s style, emphasizing a dynamic striker inside the box. Pajor finished as the league’s top scorer with 25 goals in 28 matches, along with 10 assists, and boasts prior experience scoring in a Champions League final during her time at Wolfsburg.
In his inaugural season, Romeu has the opportunity to achieve a rare feat in football: a quadruple. Though it may appear that the Barcelona Women’s team players can execute games autonomously, they have lauded Romeu’s influence since his appointment.
With many players facing a mere two-week break between the Olympics and pre-season, the 32-year-old had to carefully manage their workload to prevent fatigue and burnout while maintaining the expected high standard of performance.
“I believe that was his greatest challenge,” Hansen reflected. “While most players return to pre-season refreshed, we entered another year feeling more fatigued. Players had to use the start of the competitive season to recover from the summer. However, the coaching staff has effectively listened to our needs, and we have responded with diligence.”
“I arrived in Barcelona confident that I would win one Champions League – and now I’ve won three of them. I didn’t imagine it would happen like this when I came here and hopefully, on Saturday, I can add one more.”
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