The Catalan team that dreams of competing against Barça on equal terms

BarcelonaTwo years ago, Levante Badalona (now Badalona Women) arrived at the Badalona Municipal Stadium aiming for the top spots in Liga F. After narrowly avoiding relegation in the final weeks of the season, the Badalona side has taken its first step forward under the guidance of coach Marc Ballester. Currently eighth, just three points behind Atlético de Madrid (sixth place), optimism has taken hold at ONA, as the team is known. "Barça is a long way off, but so are Real Madrid and other clubs with very large budgets. Our realistic goal is a fifth or sixth place finish," Ballester stated a few days before another historic milestone. Badalona Women will play the first leg of the Copa de la Reina semifinals against Barça this Thursday (9 pm). "We've earned the right to be where we are."

The match will be played at the Badalona Municipal Stadium on artificial turf. The Liga F requires its clubs to play on natural grass, which is why the Badalona club has had to relocate to Palamós, but the Copa del Rey regulations allow matches to be played on any surface. "We're waiting for the renovations to begin at the Municipal Stadium. The current plan is for them to start in May so we can play here next season. This means having to travel to Palamós and sleep away from home when we play our home games. Everyone is making an incredible extra effort to make it all work," admits Ballester, who adds that it's complicated to manage. The Copa del Rey, however, gives them the opportunity to connect with their fans, as happened in the round of 16 against Granada (1-0). "That energy makes you give your all when your legs can't take it anymore."

The coach points out that playing on artificial turf gives them an advantage over Barça that they must exploit. "It's nothing like natural grass. The feel of the ball, the control, the passing, the rhythm of the ball… all change," Ballester notes. However, the coach assures that Barça can hurt them in many different ways. "We're going to look for a match where they feel uncomfortable and where our players can unleash their full potential." All this without giving anything away. "We don't like to watch the minutes tick by and see Barça dominate because it's only a matter of time before the goals start coming. We'll take risks because that's how we understand football and approach matches. We know that against Barça it could cost us dearly, but we've achieved our objective and we'll try to enjoy it."

Pending announcement of a new investor

Since Marc Ballester, formerly the assistant coach, took over the team on November 12th, they have recorded five wins, two draws, and four losses in Liga F and have eliminated Granada and Real Sociedad from the Copa del Rey. "The team is ready to achieve many more victories. We are capable of winning against any opponent. I knew how the players could perform at their best, and we have managed to find the right formula." The coach—who joined the club in the 2021-22 season as an analyst—is out of contract in June, but both parties are happy with the work done so far. When Ballester arrived, the current Badalona Women team was called Levante Las Planas and played in Sant Joan Despí. "There has been a professionalization in all areas: the squad, the coaching staff, the resources we have on a daily basis, and our visibility on social media and in marketing," the coach explains. Although there is still a long way to go, the club will announce the investor behind the current project in the coming days. "It's ambitious, and it will have a different social impact. Many people don't know who we're with and have a lot of questions. Now, they'll have a much clearer understanding of the project and where we're headed." This situation will allow them to definitively put an end to issues like late payments.