Barça turns the page after Lisbon by winning the Queen's Cup

BarcelonaAfter the disappointment of losing the Champions League final in Lisbon to Arsenal, Barça closed the season in the best possible way, winning the Copa de la Reina in Huesca against Atlético de Madrid (2-0). The Champions League wound still stings, but in the Spanish league, Pere Romeu's team remains unrivaled, as has become clear in a season in which the Catalans have won absolutely every title: La Liga, Super Cup, and finally, the Copa de la Reina. Claudia Pina, always electric, always decisive, was in charge of deciding the match with two goals, the second of which was beautiful.

In the end, Barça won their eleventh trophy against an Atlético de Madrid side that dreamed of breaking the Catalans' good run in this competition. They failed to do so. Romeu introduced two new additions to the starting lineup, with Ingrid Engen in center back and Esmee Brugts at left back—she replaced Fridolina Rolfö due to injury. It would be a special match for Engen, who was substituted in the final minutes to a standing ovation from the fans, as this will be her last game in a Barça shirt. A final act of service that ended with a trophy.

The Blaugranas made their status as favorites clear in a match with only one team always in control. The Madrid team, with a very defensive approach, initially played their cards well with a very solid low block, but in attack they were only dangerous in one play at the beginning of the second half when they managed to take advantage of a mistake by Cata Coll to score, but it was offside. It was almost the only scare the Catalan goal suffered throughout the match.

Whistling during the anthem

The final, which began with a hearty whistle from the Barça fans present at El Alcoraz stadium when the Spanish anthem was played, was a great opportunity for Pere Romeu's team to close out the season with another title, their eleventh cup in the last 21 years. And the setting was ambitious. From this dominance came the first warnings: a long-range shot from Patri Guijarro and an own goal from Xenia disallowed by the referee because the ball had gone out of bounds in the previous play. However, Barça knew how to exploit the spaces their opponents left, and before halftime, Clàudia Pina found the way to score the first goal of the final. The player from Vallecas, a true threat, managed to slip in and take advantage of the spaces created by the Polish player Ewa Pajor.

At halftime, the score was narrowly missing due to Barça's dominance, as the Madrid team continued to maintain their tactics despite losing, despite occasional instances of high pressing to try and steal the ball. Pere Romeu's players missed opportunities to score a second goal on several occasions, before and after the break, with shots from players such as Salma Paralluelo, Alexia Putellas, Ewa Pajor and Aitana Bonmatí, the latter ensuring possession with her talent.

It should have been Clàudia Pina once again who was responsible for sealing her 25th goal of the season, with a beautiful shot from the edge of the box, surrounded by opposing players, after a good Barça team play.

"We owed it to the fans, the team played a good game. We have to give importance to the rest of the titles despite the hard blow of the Champions League; this team always recovers. The key to my goals is the confidence they have shown me both here and in the national team. The fans are always on our side, they are very important to winning a title. A final that closes the season for a Barça that continues to command, but is already thinking about regaining the European crown.