Tonight. The UEFA Women’s Champions League Final. Barcelona Femeni fight for their third continental title.
Katie Gomez
. For nineteen year old footballer Júlia Bartel from Castellbisbal, Spain, life consists of having two of the most prestigious professional women’s football clubs in Europe vying for her ability. A product of La Masia (Barcelona’s youth academy), a FIFA U-20 World Cup Winner in 2022, and a top emerging talent in the world of women’s football (who is most likely moving to England), life can be pretty successful at nineteen.
Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí (R) celebrates scoring a goal with her teammates while Chelsea’s Sjoeke Nüsken (L) looks down in disappointment / SportsMax
FC Barcelona Femeni sends cohort of team players to represent their countries, Spain shine while ready to face France, Netherlands knotted up and out of competition
FC Barcelona’s unbeaten streak comes crashing down in a tangled tie with Levante UD, International players depart to be with their countries
FC Barcelona draw record-breaking Norwegian novelists SK Brann in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League
“After nine years defending the goal of the best team in the world, the time has come to end this stage.”
Ajax. Barcelona. Benfica. Brann. Chelsea. Häcken. Olympique Lyonnais. Paris Saint Germain. Europe’s elite have entered the quarterfinals.
There are certain rivalries in sports that ignite more than passion, a feeling or sentiment similar to disgust. But that feeling or sentiment similar to disgust is what keeps us entertained for 90 minutes on a football pitch even from the stands, more intent on beating the opponent than one would in war. And for Spanish giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, “El Clásico” has been around before my grandparents and yours.
