Last May the Barça Femení made the Champions League final. It was an incredible run for a team that once again had to settle for runner-up in the league for the fourth straight season. With world-class talent in their ranks, the expectations for the Femení are rising with each passing year, and making a UCL final has set the bar high. While the team was dismantled by Lyon in the final, as the French club has done to many opponents in the last decade, the team showed how high they could fly.
This season, the team is taking care of business, especially in the Primerá División. The stats are staggering. 15 wins. Two draws. 65 goals for. 6 goals against. It took an 83rd minute penalty from Jenni Hermoso to get the tie against Rayo Vallecano in Madrid in September. Unlike previous seasons, Rayo hasn’t been a contender in the league season this year, and the Femení are taking care business against the other contenders.
In their first meeting, Atlético struck first in the second minute. Yet, the Femení answered with six straight goals (among them two own goals and a penalty). Five of the six goals came before the 60th minute red card that sunk Atlético’s chances of a miraculous comeback. The 5-0 thrashing of 3rd-place Levante at the start of November was the other landmark match so far this season. Espanyol may be bottom of the table, but a 4-0 win over their city-rival was a good result as well.
The 0-0 draw today against Atlético was the first of four matches between the two rivals over the next three months. Understandably, Culés circle the Champions League tie at the end of March and beginning of April as more important. However, staying unbeaten in the league sends a message.
Basically trading Jenni Hermoso for Toni Duggan has been a net positive for Barcelona in terms of goals. Hermoso leads the league with 18 goals that includes a hat-trick against Tacón. Teammate Asisat Oshoala sits second with 14 goals, four of those coming in the other victory against Tacón. Winger Carolina Graham Hansen has had a sparkling first season with the Femení, getting her hat-trick against Deportivo La Coruña.
After going trophy-less last year, the feeling is that there is still room for the team to improve. Lieke Martens was bright today against Atlético, but her injuries have hampered her season. If Martens can stay healthy and get back to her best, the team have the chance to take that next step forward.
The draw opens up a nine-point gap atop the Primerá División over their rivals. The league isn’t done and dusted yet, but a few more victories would make things more comfortable. This puts the pressure on the team in the Champions League, and two months feels like a long time to wait for the quarter-final against Atlético. The Femení will be the favorites, but nothing can be taken for granted.
