This weekend, Women's Barça suffered an unexpected defeat against Levante at the Johan Cruyff stadium (1-2), breaking a historic six-year unbeaten streak at home. Since February 2019, the blaugranas hadn't lost at home, but this time Pere Romeu's team fell.
The Women's Barça, leader and undefeated in the League, saw how Levante, the bottom of the competition, took a historic victory. This defeat left a bitter taste in the locker room.
A difficult defeat to digest
After the match, Barça's captains, Marta Torrejón and Irene Paredes, were responsible for facing the media in the mixed zone. While Torrejón pointed out that despite Barça's numerous goal opportunities, "they didn't go in," Paredes was much more blunt in her analysis. The Spanish defender didn't hesitate to point out that the defeat was the result of the team's own mistakes.
"We are very hurt. We lost because we didn't do what we should have done well. It hurts to lose like this," said Irene Paredes, making it clear that the team hadn't been up to the task.
Levante's impact on the match
Throughout the match, Levante not only managed to defend firmly but also adopted a game strategy that, for some, was a way to waste time.
Levante's players were heavily criticized for their constant time-wasting, something that, according to Irene Paredes, negatively affected Barça. "It's clear that it affects. They play their game and then there's someone who allows them," commented the defender, insinuating that the referee's attitude allowed Levante to adopt these kinds of tactics.
The situation reflects a sense of frustration in Barça, which wasn't comfortable throughout the match. Although they had more possession and chances, they couldn't translate that into goals. Levante took advantage of every opportunity presented to them, and the victory became a historic achievement for the granota team.
Lesson for Women's Barça
For Irene Paredes, the team must learn from this defeat and correct their mistakes. Despite the difficulties, Barça remains the leader of the League, but this fall shows that they are not invincible.
The defeat against Levante is a hard blow, but also an important lesson for the players and the coaching staff, who must work to correct the mistakes.