FC Barcelona’s Dominance in the UEFA Women’s Champions League
In recent years, FC Barcelona has dominated the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL), reaching the final in every season for the past five years and securing the title three times. Central to their impressive run of form is an exceptional midfield trio composed of Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí, and Alexia Putellas. While Putellas and Bonmatí have garnered significant accolades, including five Ballon d’Or awards between them, it is Guijarro—the often-overlooked 27-year-old—who provides vital balance and cohesion to the team’s offensive and defensive strategies.
Guijarro’s Injury and Its Impact
Unfortunately for Barcelona, Guijarro has sustained a foot injury during a matchup with AS Roma, sidelining her for approximately 12 weeks. This injury comes at a critical time as the team is gearing up for a tense El Clasico against Real Madrid, followed by a challenging clash with Chelsea in the UWCL. Replacing Guijarro’s versatile midfield role will be a significant hurdle for a squad already dealing with limited depth.
Barcelona’s Playing Philosophy
Barcelona has built its playing philosophy on controlling possession, averaging 72% last season in the UWCL—the highest of any team in the past three years. Guijarro is pivotal in facilitating this possession game. She often initiates attacks from a deep midfield position, showcasing her remarkable vision and distribution skills. Last season, only one player in the UWCL, Mariona Caldentey of Arsenal, recorded more progressive passes than Guijarro, who achieved 94, while she led the competition with 90 passes directed into the final third.
Guijarro’s Skill Set and Influence
Guijarro, born in Mallorca, boasts a remarkable pass completion rate of 87% and consistently delivers over 100 passes per game. Her skill set is diverse, encompassing crossfield switches, long balls, and incisive passes that disrupt defensive lines. Not only does she excel in transitioning play, but she also acts as a buffer during high-pressure situations, deftly maneuvering away from defenders to maintain possession.
Last season, her influence in the team’s play was quantified by her “centrality” rating, where she ranked 10th in the UWCL based on the volume of her touch distribution. Guijarro contributed to 11.1% of Barcelona’s total touches during open play, typifying her role as a linchpin in midfield.
Creating Scoring Opportunities
Beyond orchestrating ball movement, Guijarro has displayed her ability to create scoring opportunities, finishing the last UWCL campaign as the leading assist provider with five assists. Barcelona’s approach to football hinges on control and territory, with a tactical model that few teams can replicate effectively. Guijarro epitomizes this strategy—her ability to dominate the midfield space and recover possession is unmatched.
Defensive Strength and Team Metrics
Her physical presence in duels is another trait that sets her apart; she frequently regains possession even in challenging conditions and has proven herself to be a defensive stalwart, as seen in last year’s UWCL semifinal against Chelsea where she registered over 100 touches, won 80% of her ground duels, and made numerous crucial tackles and interceptions.
Barcelona’s performance metrics highlight the severity of Guijarro’s absence; the team averages 0.5 fewer goals per match and exhibits a negative xG difference when she is off the pitch. So far in this current season, they have already faced a setback against Real Sociedad, underscoring the challenge of forthcoming matches against both Real Madrid and Chelsea without their best midfielder.
Conclusion
Though Laia Aleixandri has stepped in as a deep-lying midfielder, it is evident that Barcelona will feel the impact of Guijarro’s lack of presence in the coming fixtures. As discussions about Bonmatí and Putellas continue, the reality remains: Barcelona is missing a crucial component of their formidable midfield setup.
