Alexia Putellas never tires of making history. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner scored the final goal against Real Madrid in yet another Barça victory in the Clásico. But also the goal that made her the club’s third top scorer with 199 goals, surpassing Luis Suárez and close to César Rodríguez (232), although still far from the icon of Leo Messi (672). The Barça captain has long since put the injury behind her, always tired of the slump marking her career, and is in a great moment in football – the undisputed starter in most of the matches – but also personally. This is his ninth goal of the season, in addition to five assists. “It is data, it is Alexia’s incredible career and numbers. But the important thing about this team is that we have many scorers,” said Pere Romeu at a press conference. “I think there was no better scenario to score that goal. He continues to make history, and we are very happy,” shared Irene Paredes after the game.
Patri Guijarro joined the defense: “It’s a great day, for her, for us. When we entered we sang it to them. Very happy for her.” Precisely, when Alexia left the field, she transferred the captain’s armband to Patri – MVP of the match –, a player who had to take her position when the former was injured two seasons ago. The Mallorcan, as usual, grew in the face of adversity. In the classic he showed that, in addition to his defensive ability, his solutions with the ball and his genius for occupying the ideal spaces, he knows how to score. They already did it against Wolfsburg in the Champions League final in Eindhoven, when they equalized the score with two goals to come back and lift the second continental trophy. In Valdebebas, Patri opened the scoring three minutes after the start, and scored the second after Barcelona’s mistake in front of the goal. “Very happy. In the end, scoring the first is always difficult, especially how quickly we did it, away from home and against Real Madrid. Happy, too, for the three points and for the team’s play,” Patri shared after the match. Pere Romeu did not hesitate to praise her: “Patri is at a very good level. She is a very hard-working and demanding player with herself. We hope this lasts over time.”
The Mallorcan appeared again in the starting eleven. As a pivot, this season, he has beaten Keira Walsh. The Englishwoman asked to leave last summer, but the club retained her, under the premise that she would be essential this season. Despite the level he has shown in his career, Pere Romeu has sat Walsh in the most important matches, betting on Patri accompanied by Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmatí. Although at the beginning of the season, the newly arrived coach tried with the four in the midfield, he nevertheless discarded the idea as the games progressed, especially after the defeat against Manchester City. Against Madrid, with the match practically resolved, he tried it again in the second half, changing Claudia Pina for Walsh.
Precisely the Catalan forward was the author of the third goal. Pina, in a great moment, is infallible in the classics: Real Madrid is his fetish rival, a team against which he has scored five goals during his Barça career. That is why he did not stop kissing the shield repeatedly after finding the goal. “I’m leaving with the feeling that we could have a lot more than three,” Pina assured in the middle part to television with rights.
“We entered the game very well, with that early goal. The first half we could have scored six. In the second they have gotten closer. But the result is fair,” added Irene Paredes. A sensation that Pere Romeu also shared: “We have done well to score five goals.” A Barça rout that only goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez could avoid, the entire match being excellent. “We have to be more solid, more forceful and not leave so many spaces. We knew the difficulty of the game and what it entails. We conceded very early and that penalized us. We are going to continue working so that successes come,” María Méndez shared after the meeting.
Once again, despite Real Madrid’s apparent step forward, Barcelona has imposed itself forcefully. “I think Real Madrid has strengthened this summer. It is a good Madrid, that is doing things well, that is going to leave few points and that is improving its game. But we played such a good first half that it defined the line of the game,” shared Romeu. “There was talk about whether they would beat us, they were coming off a very good game. “We must not underestimate what a team it is, but we must give the value of what we do,” Paredes concluded.
