One more year, like a deep-rooted custom, like a fetish. No less celebrated, or with less merit. Winning, and deserving it, is what the Barça players want most. Barcelona has been proclaimed, for the ninth time and fifth consecutive time, champion of the F League in its second year as a professional competition. This time, in Granada, after beating the Andalusian team 1 to 4. Just five days ago, the Barça women’s reserve team had lifted its second league trophy in a row, and the first team players and the fans received their younger teammates at the Estadi Johan Cruyff to applause and cheers last Wednesday before the victory against Madrid CFF. It was a premotion, a warning or an anticipated wish. And, without surprises in a competition where everything is apparently simple for the Barça club – although this does not detract from their efforts – they have become champions with four games left, just like last season, without having to wait for the Real game. Madrid, second classified. And with another coincidence on the field: Alexia Putellas. Matchday 26 of last year was his return; this, his claim.
“I’m happy, everything is going well,” shared the ’11’ after the match. And she added: “From the inside we know what it costs, what we work for every day, and we all row in the same direction.” A little over a year ago, Barcelona won its last League title at the Johan Cruyff after a match against Sporting de Huelva. It was not just any meeting. And not only for the possibility of winning the championship in their own home. In the 59th minute Alexia warmed up. And Johan exploded when he came on in the 74th minute. He had not been on the field for almost a year due to the cruciate injury, but he came on for Claudia Pina, recovered his armband and felt like a footballer again after missing the entire season. Last year Alexia couldn’t be there. This one, due to discomfort in his operated knee, has been half-hearted. But on the field he returned to deliver, show level and vindicate himself. After barely playing in the Champions League, against Granada he appeared in the gala eleven. His renewal is still pending. But on the pitch it doesn’t matter: this season he has scored nine goals – seven in the league – and has provided five assists.
Beyond the individualities, a muscular Barcelona has been unbeatable in the League – 25 victories – with only one stain on its record: a draw against Levante last February at home. Once again, a great league season, with overwhelming dominance on a collective level, but also an outstanding personal level. In the absence of finishing the course, the podiums of the main statistics are also Barça property. Caroline Graham Hansen is the top scorer in the league, with 18 goals, and very close behind is Salma Paralluelo with 17. A little further back, in fifth position, is another culé: Claudia Pina, with 12. And the assists podium is undoubtedly from Barcelona: Graham has completed the most goal passes -17-, followed by Aitana Bonmatí -9-.
With a great distance from its opponents, in Spain its rival is Barcelona itself, which surpasses itself based on records. This is the fifth consecutive League title, a new mark for the Barça team with which it dethrones itself: until now, it had won four consecutive Leagues on two occasions (from 2011 to 2015, and from 2020 to 2024). A hegemony that is consolidated and lengthened. Although they are still far from 159 goals in favor of the 2021-22 season, they have already equaled last year’s marks with 118 goals. Once again, Barcelona makes it all look simple. But their collective and individual power continues to make the differences. With three Ballon d’Ors running through the field, and players leaving for Europe to compete for the Champions League. “We work to win all the titles. Two left. Now to prepare for the final of the Cup and the Champions League,” Alexia concluded. Smiling, with a clear objective: title poker.
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