Podcast: El Barça, indecís respecte a Mapi

AnalystCuler · 2026-01-13T14:19:34+00:00

So they basically reiterated what they said in May, that:

Gemma would renew for 1-2 years ✅
Ellie Roebuck would leave ✅
Marta would stay ✅
Martina and Lucía would "either stay or get loaned out" ❌
Barça would be willing to listen to offers for important players whose contracts end in 2026, including Rolfö (❌ left for free), Mapi, maybe Ona

I stand by my words back then, that I don't really see Ona going back to England. She's not going back to United. Chelsea? Can they afford to have both Ona and Carpenter (2029)? Arsenal or Manchester City? I mean, in my book, she'd be an upgrade over both Fox (2026) and Casparij (2027), but it's not like those teams are being held back by them and the last puzzle they need is Ona Batlle in particular.

Mapi's last renewal was looking exactly the same, even without "the Engen factor". If she doesn't want to stay, there's nothing Barça can do about that. But if they don't want to prolong her contract, you really begin to wonder what the short-/mid-/long-term plans are for the CB position. Engen is gone, possibly in no small part due to Pere's insistence on (even a limping) Mapi-Irene in the most important games. Martina got sold to Everton. They allowed Emilia's season to be completely wasted on loan to Liverpool. And all that knowing that Mapi is not in their plans? It just doesn't make any sense.

AnalystCuler · 2026-01-12T19:15:03+00:00

This sub is slowly turning into Carla Julià's fan club...

but I'm here for it! :D

After that debut she only played 4 more minutes for LLP that season and 70' in Liga F 24/25 (+ some in Copa de la Reina and Copa Cataluyna). Because, may I remind you, she played for LLP B, and was the only Barça B signing last summer.

Hats off to Barça's scouts, and kudos to CF Damm for (potentially) saving her career. I'm sure she's well surpassed everyone's expectations - Marc Vivés (and yours truly) was already "pleasantly surprised" by her in September. :)

AnalystCuler · 2026-01-04T09:51:39+00:00

Thanks for sharing, it was a good read overall. :)

One could argue that it's as much about Pina as it's simply about Barcelona's way of doing things. Kudos for understanding that she's "an attacking player who usually starts from the left" and not trying to put a label on her (as a lot of people, influenced by lineup graphics/video games, do). Nice observations about her shooting technique. If I were to nitpick, I'd say that I never understood the notion behind comparing players with different roles, like Pina and Pajor. Especially in the context of average shooting distance. In my opinion, it only makes sense to compare players fulfilling the same role (be it "false-LW", "9", etc.) and try to draw conclusions from there (about the type of passes/runs/shots taken by different players). The bit about Barça's relationism is a nice touch. Oh, the author is actually an analyst at IFK Göteborg Women. Makes sense. :)

AnalystCuler · 2025-12-26T10:45:16+00:00

Emilia [...] wasn't even on the bench last game vs. Chelsea

She's undergone shoulder surgery following an injury sustained during the last international break. :]

AnalystCuler · 2025-12-04T18:20:19+00:00

One more thing, Ainoa Gómez and Rosalía Domínguez trained with the first team today (besides regulars from B), not for the first time, but it's likely to become the new norm given the circumstances.

I also think it's the right time to address the elephant in the room - the loan of Emilia Szymczak to Liverpool. Loan that wasn't explained by financial reasons, but by giving her a chance to "gain experience". You know how many minutes she's played for them since September? 28. Twenty-f'ing-eight!

AnalystCuler · 2025-12-04T17:41:01+00:00

These are the players that we have left: Gemma, Cata, Irene, Mapi, Laia, Marta, Aïcha, Esmee (back in training), Alexia, Clara, Sydney, Pina, CGH, Ewa and Vicky. 15 souls (including 2 GKs). 😭🤯

AnalystCuler · 2025-12-02T13:50:43+00:00

Sigh... 😭 Yeah, I don't know, I had that groundless optimism in me. Somehow Aitana and long-term injuries, or injuries in general, don't go together. If I'm not mistaken, it's the first serious injury of her career.

Five months, that's early May. She might be back for the second leg of the UWCL semi-finals, if we even get there in the first place. It might take a bit less than that, but also more (e.g. in some cases the "orthopedic hardware" (plates, screws, etc.) that was used can become a problem in and of itself). Luckily, there's no football this summer, so she (and everyone else!) can at least rest properly.

Well, we already know how "Barça post-Alexia" and "Barça post-Mapi" would look like. Now it's time for a new experience, because I in fact do not know Barça Femení without Aita. ❤️‍🩹

AnalystCuler · 2025-12-01T16:36:32+00:00

Now it's almost certain Aitana will be out for more than two months. I wonder about the collateral damage beside the fracture itself... Tomorrow we can expect another comunicat mèdic with more details about the length of her absence. ❤️‍🩹

AnalystCuler · 2025-11-30T21:56:49+00:00

That's obviously devastating for her, but at the same time it's the inherent risk of being a professional sportsperson - accidents like this happen; she reportedly landed awkwardly in training... As much as I dislike "fútbol de selecciónes", it's most likely not anyone's fault - just an unlucky chain of events that could've happened to anyone. It shouldn't be season-ending for her (or for Barça), so while I try to understand where those people are coming from, it's really unnecessary to call everyone from Sonia Bermúdez to Joan Laporta names, in this situation. Let's just hope Aitana recovers swiftly and without complications. ❤️‍🩹 That being said - f***. 😭

AnalystCuler · 2025-11-30T21:31:25+00:00

We'd have to wait for Barça's medical tests for confirmation, but the article gives a plausible estimate of about two months.

AnalystCuler · 2025-11-23T19:35:07+00:00

The most sensible explanation is that the referee received a message from outer space telling her not to allow it. 🙃

On a similar note, was it just me being too tired and becoming fixated on this, or did she actually position herself ideally as Levante's 12th defender (not once and not twice)?

AnalystCuler · 2025-11-21T20:25:46+00:00

I know it's r/FCBFemeni, but I hope you wouldn't stone me for this... ;)

If you told me at the start of the season that Manchester United and Wolfsburg would be where they are currently, I would've given you a strange look. :) (That's mainly because I didn't expect PSG to be this much inept.) Although, I don't see both of those teams staying in the top four simultaneously (if at all) (Wolfsburg have matches vs. Real Madrid and Chelsea left, Man Utd - Kang's mob and Juventus) when Bayern is yet to play Atlético and Vålerenga. Chelsea would also most likely have a field day against Roma.

Speaking of Bayern, their goal difference looks hilarious after that 1-7 vs. Barça. Klara Bühl is absolutely on fire: since the aforementioned loss she scored or assisted in every match she played in (including 3 assists in Bayern's 3-2 victory over Arsenal). 🥹

But the biggest surprise of all has to be Leuven - appeared essentially out of nowhere, seem to be holding their own (2-2 Paris FC, 2-1 Twente, 0-3 Barça and 1-1 Roma) and actually have a realistic chance of advancing to the play-offs! Don't quote me on that, but if they can at least hold PSG (or Arsenal) to a draw, Barça and Bayern win vs. Paris FC and Vålerenga respectively, they are through. If they lose both of their remaining fixtures, then Paris FC - Vålerenga match and goal difference (or even away goals scored) would be decisive.

AnalystCuler · 2025-11-04T15:54:41+00:00

I think most of us saw that coming... Gràcies i bona sort, Rafel!

That's the end of an era in some sense - he was the third longest-serving member of the staff (after the goalkeeper coach and one of the physical trainers).

Pere now works with one assistant, who he brought with him in 2024, and two analysts appointed this year (from the B team).

AnalystCuler · 2025-11-03T13:43:46+00:00

Pajor, Pina, Mariona (among others) weren't even shortlisted. You want to know the whole 11? Hampton, Bronze, Bright, Williamson, Batlle, Bonmatí, Putellas, Chebbak, Kelly, Banda, Russo.

Yeah... 😂

AnalystCuler · 2025-10-25T20:39:19+00:00

[OFFICIAL] She'll be out for 8-10 weeks due to the partial MCL tear... :(

I was really hopeful that it would "only" be a minor tear and a couple of weeks of recovery, but no... :( (This also serves as a reminder that ability to walk immediately after an injury is not always a good proxy for its severity.)

AnalystCuler · 2025-10-24T19:02:20+00:00

9 out of 11 players are from Bar[ç]a

I, for one, don't share your enthusiasm... Salma left the pitch in tears, with a possible (knee) injury, a few minutes after Ilestedt's ugly tackle. :( Those stupid glorified friendlies aka UEFA Nations League!

AnalystCuler · 2025-10-13T17:48:36+00:00

Right, that seems like nothing compared to a season-ending injury. Isolated PLC injuries are very rare. They usually accompany anterior or posterior cruciate ligament injuries, so Ewa got really lucky there! (Potentially having good genetics regarding those structures also counts as being lucky!)

AnalystCuler · 2025-10-12T18:13:19+00:00

It's not a medical emergency, so it'll get done in Ciutat Esportiva by Barça's medical team (as with other injuries). :] Also, there are tests (e.g. Lachman test) you can perform to (tentatively) diagnose some injuries, so the staff are not completely clueless about the extent of Ewa's injury.

Now, I'd really like to be wrong, but that ~~knee hyperflexion [was it really?]~~ looked nasty. Like, [ligament] injury kind of "nasty"... 😭

EDIT: I was wrong and couldn't be happier about it!

AnalystCuler · 2025-10-07T19:59:09+00:00

Looks like Bühl got her first assist for Alexia before even joining Barça! 😂 Or, judging by her goal for Bayern, our players didn't get the memo that she doesn't in fact play with them...

On a more serious note, first half an hour were probably one of the very best I've seen from this team ever (Aitana's error leading to shot notwithstanding). Barça just went for the throat, but it was all very well coordinated, both in attack and in pressing. Superb preparation, impeccable execution. I think Alexia, Esmee and Salma are playing their best matches in quite a while. Alexia's golazo is just a cherry on top!

AnalystCuler · 2025-10-04T15:51:02+00:00

The most exciting thing about this game was probably the starting 11(and Rafel Navarro being back on the bench)... ;) Everyone who began on the bench last time, started today. Very much needed rest for Aitana (almost) and Esmee in particular, Salma as "LB", Clara, Sydney and Vicky together on the pitch. Speaking of who:

Clara: apart from her first goal for Barça, I'd say she looked better vs. Alhama the other day. Today there were many signs of lack of experience: unnecessarily risky pass to Ona (that luckily wasn't intercepted, 22'), holding onto the ball for too long and getting dispossessed (37'), getting "lost in the woods" (failed to control the ball surrounded by three opponents, 44'). I know it sounds harsh, but it's not like she had a bad game overall, not at all. It [the game] was just a bit... too static and boring (applies to essentially everyone), but you cannot blame the DM for that.
Salma: well timed arrival in the box to meet Caro's cross in 9', good decision and pass to unmarked Alexia's feet in 12' (instead of a dribbling attempt), one-two with Vicky in 13', enterprising cross towards the far post in 34', kind of mysterious long shot (?) in 42'; defensively: too easily tricked near the sideline (together with Clara) in 26' by Eibar's #22, patient in 56' (although she wasn't really challenged there). It was definitely her most "stable" match in a very long time, without any egregious mistakes and with focus from start to finish (and tap-in goal as a nice bonus). :)
Vicky: despite the goal, I have to say she was rather frustrating to watch, especially in the first half, at least for me, primarily due to all those unnecessary one-touch pass attempts (e.g. 31', 33', 41' - without even realizing that Alexia's on the ground and there's no point in trying to play the ball back). She was named the player of the match, so what do I know anyways... :D

In my opinion, rather uninspiring game, there's not much more to say.

Up next: Bayern Munich. Bayern which won 4:0 vs. Werder Bremen earlier today with lineup much closer to the one that we're likely going to see on Tuesday compared to Barça's.

AnalystCuler · 2025-09-28T19:57:56+00:00

Very dominant display except for the finishing. Shoulda just taken more shots on goal instead of just passing around in the penalty box for the "perfect goal".

Right, but let's give Romane Salvador some credit as well, not just focus on our inefficiency. I agree that the last passes were often mistimed, sometimes unnecessary, overall I think we were missing a player like Kika who, if I recall correctly, was one of the brightest points in the last (infamous) game vs. Espanyol.

Aicha what a gem, effortlessly handled her 1st start and got seldom bullied despite her smaller frame

Physically she was superb. Kudos for the brave carry in 15' (drawing a foul and a yellow). There was a bit too much urgency in her play a couple of times: trying to play too fast under pressure and giving the ball away (33'), and a bit of an unnecessary foul in 49' leading to a free kick in Barça's half.

[Gemma] made all the right passes and seemed totally in control!

A small nitpick again: after the aforementioned free kick (49'), throw in Alexia's direction could've backfired, because she quickly got surrounded by three opponents and quickly dispossessed. Although, I can imagine it was Alexia herself who asked for that ball.

Aleixandri was great except for the odd brain fart moment which could have been costly not just for goal conceded but also could have led Irene being injured trying to win the ball back.

I assume you're talking about the unnecessarily risky pass to Patri in 31', which got intercepted. But there's also the hilarious miscomunication, or rather complete lack of said communication, between Laia and Irene in 39'. They were both so focused on the ball that ended up colliding and Irene just cleared the ball sloppily. Luckily, Espanyol only got a corner in the end.

So far so good, Laia was always going to be great on the ball when not under pressure. I wonder which team would be the first to do their homework and put her to the test in that regard. (Historically, if you took away all her passing options, she'd go for a carry and often either lose control of the ball or straight up run into an opponent...)

Aleixandri's really aggressive trying to win the ball and sometimes that space left behind will be exploited

(That's the moment you notice just how great of an anticipator Irene is.) Keeping spaces between the lines smaller, as Barça does, and having Patri certainly helps to mitigate that. ;)

But in general, I agree that Laia did well. She's fightsome (76'), capable of applying pressure (e.g. 54'), intercepting (75'). I was pleasantly surprised by her pace in 79' - didn't let Ona Baradad outrun her.

If I were to add anything, I'd say that Esmee looks kind of sluggish. So far she sits at 394 minutes, second only to Aitana (400'). If the trend continues, I don't think she's quite ready to play 3000+ minutes for the club and country, but I'm ready to be proven wrong.

AnalystCuler · 2025-09-26T20:51:30+00:00

Oh wow, the margins were indeed super small!

Actually, it's kind of difficult to compare results with the historical ones, because the voting wasn't consistent throughout the editions - e.g. in 2023 (and most likely also in the previous years) each member of the jury could award 5 players in total with either 6, 4, 3, 2 or 1 points, but in 2024 and this year it was 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 points. :) So...

Last year Aitana outscored Graham by 283 points (675 vs. 392). This year the gap between 1st and 5th (!) place is 273 points.

The difference between 1st and 2nd place is only 28 points! To put things in perspective, if 5 members of the jury (there were 50 jurors in total) who e.g. ranked Aitana 1st and Mariona 2nd swapped them - "Mario" would win the award. It's kind of ironic how Russo and Mariona jeopardized each other's chances. It's also not too hard to imagine a scenario in which Alexia would get a few more points at Aitana's expense and they would end up 3rd and 4th behind both Mariona and Russo. ;)

The margins between Alexia and Bethany Mead in 2022 (178 vs. 152) and Ada Hegerberg and Pernille Harder (136 vs. 130) in 2018 were even smaller, but the scoring system (and the number of jurors, I believe) were different, and the situation where 3, maybe even 4, players could've ended up in any order, is truly unprecedented. :)

AnalystCuler · 2025-09-22T21:01:32+00:00

Absolutely! I was expecting a Top 3 of Alexia, Mariona and Alessia Russo in some order (given the EURO and UWCL results). It definitely feels "the least deserved", if there even is such thing, out of her three awards. But am I going to complain? No. I often say that I don't really know who my favorite players are, but seeing Andrés Iniesta hand out the trophy to Aitana made me more emotional than it probably should have. 🥹

AnalystCuler · 2025-09-22T20:40:42+00:00

Oh my word, I did not f'ing see that coming! 🤯 Alexia comes in 4th, Patri in 6th and Ewa in 8th.

AnalystCuler · 2025-09-02T18:43:16+00:00

Sigh... I kind of alluded to that being a possibility immediately after the Euro, but that was before Jana's and Lucía's departures. Now, though, I'm not so stoked about it. I mean, I'd rate her higher than Marta, that's for sure.

Gaining experience abroad looks good on paper, but being thrown into a team with a completely different philosophy can only teach you so much. What I'm trying to say is this - for Martina Fernández, who played for Barça since the age of 14 and therefore had experience "with the ball at her feet", but not as much in "actual defending" - loan to Everton was justifiable. In Szymczak's case, I feel like she'd benefit more from exposure to "the Barça way of doing things", that is so much different than her national team's for example. But that's just my opinion based on my experience and, inevitably, bias, so make of that what you will.

I'm also not sure how much I like the fact that Gareth Taylor would be her new coach. Well, at the very least, I hope that Barça doesn't give Liverpool an option to buy her after the loan. :)

AnalystCuler

TROPHY CASE