A Barcelona monologue with a long-awaited return to Johan Cruyff

Sant Joan DespíBarça defeats Atlético de Madrid and makes a statement in La Liga F. Pere Romeu's team takes advantage of Real Madrid's defeat and now has a ten-point lead at the top of the table. The Blaugrana came out with a clear game plan, aware that they couldn't afford to slip up against the second-highest scoring team in the competition (Barça is the first). Goals from Alexia Putellas, Claudia Pina, Esmee Brugts, and Salma Paralluelo – who was returning to action after a three-month injury layoff – secured another three points in a match played early due to the Spanish Super Cup, which takes place from January 20th to 24th in Castellón. Barça will play their semifinal match against Athletic Club de Bilbao on Wednesday the 21st (7 pm).

The Catalan side managed to neutralize Atlético, who barely managed to get out of their own half, and capitalized on a turnover in their own half to take the lead. Clara Serrajordi regained possession, Clàudia Pina combined with Alexia Putellas, and the captain made no mistake after a neat cut inside the box. While Barça had taken the lead in the second minute of the first leg through Brugts, it took them four minutes to find the net in Johan. Clàudia Pina made it 2-0 with a long-range shot that deflected off an opponent, while Pajor had a chance to make it 3-0 before halftime after a great through ball from Pina, but the referee ruled it out for offside.

Pere Romeu's players dominated the match from start to finish, far superior to Atlético, with an excellent Alexia Putellas nearly providing assists for her teammates. Cata Coll, returning from injury, was just another spectator at the Johan Cruyff Stadium, which, despite it being a Wednesday, was packed with over 3,000 people.

Salma returns to the playing field

A one-sided affair that continued into the second half and was rewarded once again with a goal. Atlético lost possession in their own half, and Esmee Brugts made no mistake, this time making it 3-0. With the scoreline already settled and no sign of a comeback from the Madrid side, Pere Romeu began to make substitutions to distribute playing time during this demanding stretch of the season. The Barcelona fans were able to see Carla Julià back on the wing – after her impressive performance against Madrid CFF – but it was Clàudia Pina who made it 4-0 after a shot from Ewa Pajor that was saved by Lola Gallardo. But the most anticipated moment of the night arrived in the 79th minute, when Salma Paralluelo entered the field to a standing ovation from the fans who had traveled to the Johan Cruyff Stadium. The Aragonese footballer hadn't played since the end of October when she suffered a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in her knee while on international duty with Spain. Almost three months later, Salma was finally able to return to action in an official match to get back into form. The Barcelona player had a good spell on the pitch, looking for a goal which she found in stoppage time after a cross from Ewa Pajor that Alexia Putellas cleverly let pass.

A very comfortable match for Barça against an ineffective Atlético de Madrid side that managed just one shot in 90 minutes. The Catalan team reaches the halfway point of the league season with a ten-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid, and with the feeling that the Christmas break has allowed them to rest their legs, recover energy, and regroup for the demanding month of January. Barça enters the first decisive stretch of the season in the best possible shape.