It couldn't be this time for FC Barcelona. Unexpectedly, the team led by Pere Romeu lost by the minimum in the Champions League final. It was Arsenal that came out on top in Lisbon, taking advantage of a solitary goal by Blackstenius to add another "Orejona" to their personal record.
Barça arrived eager to win their fourth Champions League, which would have been the third in a row, but things didn't go their way. In a permissive refereeing by the Croatian referee Martincic, Arsenal took the opportunity to waste time from the start and frustrate the Barça players. Despite being superior, it couldn't be possible this time.
Barça tried by all means, playing better and shooting more. But the reality is that they weren't fortunate in front of the goal nor did they play their best match of the season. In fact, the first half was one of the worst of the year. Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas gave their all, but even so, it wasn't possible.
Barça loses and the Ballon d'Or is now a matter of 3
Having lost the Champions League final, what was expected to be a Ballon d'Or for Aitana or Alexia could now change everything. Emerging as the main favorite is a former teammate of both: the Balearic Mariona Caldentey. She left Barça last summer, coinciding with the end of her contract, and headed to Arsenal.
Things have gone well for her, once again becoming the Champions League champion in a match where she was one of the best.
In the next Ballon d'Or gala, it will be awarded to one of the 3 favorites to win it: Aitana, Alexia, and now, Mariona Caldentey. Pere Romeu's team ended up crying in a final that they narrowly lost. You can't always win, but this one hurts especially because of the good momentum of recent matches: a shame, but Barça will rise again. There is no doubt.