We’ve made it to a new year. New goals, new challenges, new competition, new trophies. And for Barcelona Femeni, this superstar team is no stranger to Copa de la Reina, “the Queen’s Cup”. Held annually and hosted by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Copa de la Reina is a playoff style elimination competition between clubs in Spain from different divisions of leagues.
Since its inauguration in 1983, Barcelona have won the Copa de la Reina a whopping 9 times, although unfortunately not most recently. That title belongs to Atletico de Madrid, currently sitting in fourth place on the Liga F table, and proven competitors against both FC Barcelona men’s and women’s sides. As it stands, the bold Blaugrana are set to showdown vs Fundación Albacete on January 13th. Although with player injuries with the likes of veteran Marta Torrejón, brick wall Mapi León (pictured above), promising Salma Paralluelo and the heart of the club Alexia Putellas, Barcelona will need to stay solid not just for this upcoming match but for the rest of the season with the aspiration of becoming European champions once again. No pressure, all preparation.
FCB Femeni opened 2024 with a regular season victory over Levante Las Planas, walking away extremely victorious at 9-1. Head Coach Jonatan Giraldez has opted not to sign any fresh blood and instead has been moving players around, Ingrid Syrstad Engen proving more than efficient at defense as her natural position is in the midfield. Speaking of midfielders, Patri Guijarro managed to score three goals in one game, placing her up there with the best strikers in the game. And academy product Vicky Lopez is living the dream at 17 years old playing for the best club in the world. After hopefully eliminating their opposition from Copa de la Reina elimination, Barcelona will fully shift their focus to duel with Real Madrid and then Sweden’s top team, Rosengaard all in the same month of January. So far, so good. Let’s see what 2024 has in store.
