Wednesday was a day of many emotions for the culers. Alexia Putellas – who also had an institutional event in the morning at Camp Nou – said goodbye to the fans in the last match of the season at the Johan Cruyff stadium (with a 2-1 victory against Real Sociedad). Although it is not yet official, Marta Torrejón, Mapi León and Ona Batlle – all three starters – also experienced their last match at home. On the other hand, Graham Hansen and Salma Paralluelo – who also finish their contracts on June 30, but have more options to continue at the club – started the duel from the bench.

An era has ended. Alexia Putellas leaves Barça after fourteen seasons. The captain announced it this Tuesday, three days after winning their fourth Champions League in Oslo and completing a perfect season with the poker: Champions, League, Cup, and Super Cup. Through a video on her Instagram account, she explained that she is closing "a perfect story." Alexia will say goodbye this Wednesday at the Johan Cruyff, in the Barça-Real Sociedad match, the last home game for the Blaugranas in the League. Before that, at 11:00 AM, there will be an institutional event with the entire first-team squad and the Board of Directors at Camp Nou.

Today we will have new revelations about the judicial investigation into the lobbying activity of former Spanish president Zapatero, because the judge will deliver to the parties everything that is in the initiated summary. And, of course, with new revelations the pressure on Sánchez's government to step down will increase. On this front there is a significant novelty: the PNB, through its president, Aitor Esteban, said yesterday that it would be “irresponsible” for Sanchez to want to exhaust the legislature in 2027, that is to say, that in view of everything that has emerged (the Zapatero case, but also the Cerdán and Ábalos cases) it would be imprudent to want to go beyond this year.What Esteban is telling Sánchez is that he should not abuse his patience and the deadlock in which the parties that voted for the socialist president's investiture find themselves: it is unlikely that the PNB, Junts, and not to mention the so-called "plurinational lefts" will vote for Feijóo as president of the government with Vox in a motion of censure, but if corruption continues to tarnish Sánchez, it is the Spanish president who should be obliged to call early elections. After all, Sánchez came to power with a motion of censure after corruption drowned Rajoy and the PP government.As always happens in these cases, now there are voices demanding that the law better define the limits between lobbying and falling into the crime of influence peddling. And the convenience of rescuing the airline Plus Ultra during the pandemic is also reviewed in hindsight, because it was not essential for air traffic between Spain and Latin America. If it wasn't, why did they rescue it? The PSOE is crossing its fingers so that the judge hasn't found anything else and can recover the discourse of "lawfare" (a possibility that, given what we have seen in the Spanish justice system, would not be so dismissible), but everyone you talk to tells you that, at the very least, Zapatero acted very much on the edge.While the socialists are crossing their fingers that nothing else comes up, in our country, tomorrow there will be another meeting between the Government and the education unions. The teachers' strikes are more than a stone in the government's shoe, they are a boulder in the road that doesn't let it continue to move with confidence and optimism after having been able to present a budget that will be approved. We are at the end of the sports seasons, and Catalonia has lost a team in the First Football Division, Girona. After having reached the Champions League, it drops to the Second Division: the team could not withstand the departure of key players who had made a name for themselves. Not all news is bad. Two Catalans succeeding in the world: the Barça women's football team, which tonight was received in Barcelona by 10,000 people after having won the Champions League, the fourth in the Club's history, in a perfect season that includes all three Spanish titles. And wait, because Alexia Putellas, after Saturday's Champions League, could very well win the Ballon d'Or again. For the visibility of professional women's sport, the service Barça is providing is extraordinary. And Pep Guardiola, who yesterday was bid farewell at City's stadium after 10 years as its manager. The mark Guardiola has left on football can only be defined by "a before and an after"; this can be said of very few managers in history. By the way, both celebrations, that of the Barça players and that of the Santpedor coach, were united by the estelada:

Barça will play in another Champions League final again – the seventh in its history, the sixth consecutive one–. The Camp Nou filled up again with more than 60,000 people and Pere Romeu's team beat Bayern Munich (4-2) for the second time this season. The day after this historic feat, however, the spotlight has turned to Alexia Putellas. The player left the field emotional and rumors about the possibility of it being her last match at the Camp Nou have spread quickly. According to sources consulted by ARA, the explanation is that the tears were of relief after a week of great nervousness about what was at stake, nothing less than another European final. Winning the Champions League is always the team's priority objective. The captain has not yet decided her future, but she has always expressed her desire to continue if she considers herself to be at the highest level, they explain to this newspaper.

The dream of Oslo is now a reality. On May 23, Barça will play in a Champions League final again – the sixth consecutive, the seventh in the last eight years – after beating Bayern Munich at Camp Nou. Pere Romeu's team has shown that they also know how to compete bravely against great rivals and overcome adverse scenarios, which they are not accustomed to throughout the season. Goals from Salma Paralluelo, Ewa Pajor, and Alexia Putellas – with a brace – allow Barça to dream of their fourth Champions League (4-2). In the Oslo final, they will face Olympique Lyon, featuring former blaugranas Jonatan Giráldez and Ingrid Engen.

The rivalry between Barça and Espanyol is very present whenever the two clubs face each other. A few weeks ago it was experienced at the Camp Nou with the men's derby and at Johan Cruyff in the match between the reserve teams, and this Wednesday (7 p.m.) the excitement moves to the Ciutat Esportiva Dani Jarque with the duel that will pit the two women's teams against each other. A match that takes on special relevance because the blaugranes could certify the League title at the home of their eternal rival. Pere Romeu's team depends on itself and will be champions if they beat Espanyol. In the minds of all culers and pericos is what happened three years ago, in 2023, at the RCDE Stadium, when an invasion forced the cancellation of the blaugranes' celebration on the pitch. Fortunately, the blanc-i-blaves already have their survival assured and the tension will be less than what was experienced that day at the RCDE.

Words are running out to describe this team. The Barça women's team has once again made history, both on and off the field. Pere Romeu's squad has gathered 60,067 people at the Camp Nou – an absolute record since returning to the stadium, for both men's and women's teams –, Alexia Putellas has reached 500 matches with the blaugrana jersey and, on the field, has once again thrashed – and crucified – Real Madrid, for the third time in a week. 6-0 at the end of 90 minutes in Barcelona and 12-2 on aggregate in the tie. Barça advances with a firm step to the semifinals for the eighth consecutive season and will face Bayern Munich.

“Alexia is Barça”. That is how Irene Paredes and Patri Guijarro – two of the captains – summarize Alexia Putellas. Almost 5,000 days after wearing the Barça jersey for the first time, the Mollet native has once again made history at the Camp Nou, where she has reached 500 games in the blaugrana shirt. This is yet another example of what a key player represents in the growth of the Catalan club. When Alexia debuted with Barça on August 24, 2012 – after playing for Espanyol and Levante to grow and establish herself in the First Division –, Barça had not yet played any Champions League matches, had just won their first league title – now they are on their way to their eleventh – and only had two Cups in their trophy cabinet – on May 16th, they could lift their twelfth.

Five points is what separates Barça from winning their seventh consecutive Liga F after beating them 0-3 at the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium. Ona Batlle opened the scoring with a long-range shot that deflected off Rocío Gálvez and broke through the defensive wall set up by Madrid, and Alexia Putellas –with Barça's 100th goal against the white team– and an own goal sealed the match. Graham Hansen, who started after being a substitute on Wednesday, had a great game.

Alexia Putellas is the big name in this final stretch of the season. The captain's contract ends next June, although she has an option for another year. The player from Mollet del Vallès is very happy at Barça, "the club of her life," but she isn't thinking about her future right now. Alexia is highly motivated and focused on the remainder of the season. The midfielder has stood out in the last two victoriesHis three goals have given him a lot of confidence ahead of the most demanding matches. The club explains that they are in "ongoing talks," but according to ARA, the renewal will not happen immediately.

Barça and Atlético de Madrid will face each other again on Saturday, May 16th at the Gran Canaria stadium. It will be a rematch of last year's Copa de la Reina final – with a 2-0 victory for Barcelona – after the Blaugrana lived up to expectations against Badalona Women following a 0-0 draw in the first leg (4-1), and Atlético Madrid eliminated Tenerife on Tuesday (2-1). But the first goal of the match – and of the tie – was a long time coming. Alexia Putellas opened the scoring just before halftime, and from then on, the game slowed down. The captain, from the penalty spot, made it 2-0, while Kika Nazareth and Ewa Pajor completed the scoring. Lice Chamorro scored Badalona's lone goal (4-1).

Xavi Llorens (Barcelona, ​​1958) is the quintessential unsung hero of Barça. A pioneer of the women's team – which he managed between 2006 and 2017 – Llorens has also been involved in futsal and youth football, allowing him to boast of having been Leo Messi's first coach at the club. "I've always been told that a pétanque team will be formed and that I'll have to start it. What I like is being in the shadows, doing less visible work, and going almost unnoticed," he explains to ARA. The coach – who has played various roles in the game of pétanque – laid the foundations for a Barça team that won three Champions League titles. "We just had to work and convince the players that what we wanted to do was win a lot of things," he says.

Another victory for Barça in La Liga F. Their seventeenth win of the season. Pere Romeu's team – with a rotated squad – comfortably defeated a Sevilla side that barely crossed midfield (4-1). Kika Nazareth opened the scoring with a no-look shot, and Sydney Schertenleib, Salma Paralluelo, and Kika again completed the rout. Alexia Putellas, who came on in the 60th minute, was busy providing assists to help maintain the ten-point lead over Real Madrid before their visit to Los Blancos in the Copa de la Reina quarterfinals (Thursday at 9 pm, single-leg match). This wasn't the only gift from the captain to the fans at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Barça supporters were also treated to a surprise: a handwritten letter from Alexia Putellas thanking the fans for their support. This initiative is part of the creation of the new brand for the footballer from Mollet del Vallès, in collaboration with Nike. The logo features a crown – she is known as the Queen – an eleven in honor of her jersey number, and an A, representing her name. The Barça captain continues to break records – not only on the field – and joins the ranks of athletes like Michael Jordan and Leo Messi, who also have their own clothing lines. She was, in fact, the one who presented the Spanish Super Cup trophy – which they won on January 24th in Castellón against Real Madrid – to the fans.

It was a big week for Barça women. After seeing Aitana Bonmatí win her third Ballon d'Or, Pere Romeu's team dispatched a defensive Espanyol side in the derby at the Johan Cruyff Stadium (2-0). The blue and white team managed to shut down their opponents for much of the match thanks to Romane Salvador's saves, but the quality of Alexia Putellas and the great goalscorer Ewa Pajor ultimately won the day.

Paris surrendered at the feet of a Catalan woman. Again, for the fifth time. The French capital dressed up for another year for the Ballon d'Or ceremony, the award given by the French magazine France Football and which recognizes the best players of the season. A historic gala, because Aitana Bonmatí won the Ballon d'Or ahead of Mallorca's Mariona Caldentey, who came in second. Alessia Russo, a double European champion with Arsenal and the English national team, finished third. In the men's category, it was a celebration for PSG: they were chosen as the best club, Luis Enrique won as the best coach, and Ousmane Dembélé won the grand prize, the Ballon d'Or, ahead of Lamine Yamal, who came one step away from causing an upset. The player from Mataró became the youngest player to climb the podium, doing so at 18 years old. Until now, the youngest had been Brazilian Ronaldo in 1997 at 21 years old.

The Spanish women's national team had been eliminated in the quarterfinals of three consecutive European Championships. This happened in the 2013, 2017, and 2022 editions. In fact, they had only reached the semifinals once in the tournament's history, in 1997, but the format was different back then, and this round involved reaching the semi-finals directly from the group stage. In other words, Spain had never won a Euro Cup knockout match until this Friday, when the team led by Aitana Bonmatí, from Sant Pere de Ribes, and Claudia Pina, from Montcada i Reixac, defeated the host nation, Switzerland, 2-0, in Bern. It was their two moments of brilliance that decided the match.

A crank against Portugal (5-0) and a scandalous thrashing of Belgium (6-2). The Spanish national team, led by Barça players who are enjoying a good moment, such as Alexia Putellas and Claudia Pina, continues to advance steadily in the Eurocup. After a first half that was more tight than expected and with the return of Irene Paredes to the center of defense, in the second half the Spanish steamroller overcame a Belgian team that, with very little, managed to give Montse Tomé's team two scares.

The Women's Euro Cup kicks off this Thursday with Iceland vs. Finland (6 p.m.). Sixteen teams will battle it out to face Finland in the final on July 27th at Sankt Jakob-Park in Basel, with Spain one of the main contenders for the title. Montse Tomé's team will be looking to lift the only trophy they have yet to win after winning the Nations League and the World Cup. England and France are the other two big names to watch.

The Camp Nou will fill up again on April 22. After registering a new world record for attendance for the quarter-final match against Real Madrid Barça has decided to reopen the gates of the Camp Nou for the semi-final match against Wolsfburg on the eve of Sant Jordi. Tickets went on sale at midday on Monday and, in the first nine hours – with access only for members – 50,000 units were booked. This Tuesday tickets went on sale for all fans. The virtual queues were very long – up to 15,000 people.