Last season, the year in which Barça bathed in glory with the first treble in history for Spanish women’s football, the Barça team choked on the Super Cup. It was, precisely, Atlético de Madrid that kicked Barça out in the semi-final. And the girls of Jonathan Giráldez wanted revenge. An ambitious and competitive team like the one led by Alexia Putellas does not forget, much less when it comes to Atlético, their great enemy in Spain. The Iberdrola Super Cup crowned Barcelona with its first title of the campaign this Sunday, but football toasted Virginia Torrecilla. The Mallorcan returned to play in the Las Rozas final after 686 days. In May 2020, he underwent surgery for a tumor in his head, which he completed with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He went from weighing 63 kilos to 48. “My legs looked like arms,” he recalls. Torrecilla’s triumph, Barcelona’s win and lights for a footballer who usually stands out in the shadows: Caroline Graham Hansen.
“Virginia, Virginia!” resounded in the stands of Las Rozas, when the rojiblanca was preparing to jump the field in the 85th minute. The recognition began in the public and ended on the pitch. The Barcelona players kept Torrecilla after the match. “I have many friends at Barça. In the selection we make a lot of pineapple. Football has been with me throughout this process. They have been like family to me. I must thank everything they have done for me. It’s a source of pride and I thank Barça for everything they’ve done for me. This has just begun and everything that comes from now will go up”, said Virginia after the final. And he added: “It wasn’t a happy comeback at all because we lost, but we gave everything in the end against Barça, which is the best team in the world”. Tribute for Torrecilla, award for the best player for Hansen.
The Norwegian did not walk the red carpet in Paris, the night that women’s football toasted Putellas and Barcelona took all the awards: best coach, best defense, best midfielder and best striker. Hansen was also not featured in the FIFA awards, which also crowned Alexia The Best. “Individual awards are not important to me. I’d rather win the Champions than get an individual award. I am not amused by the attention of the press. And another thing, I give assists, I don’t score so many goals”, reflected the Scandinavian, in an interview with EL PAÍS, before conquering the Orejona in Gothenburg.
Recognition, however, is at Barcelona. Surely, in the place where the Norwegian is most interested. “The signing of Caro was key for Barça to make the leap in quality to win in Europe,” says one of the heavyweights in the Barça dressing room. “It seems to me that those who choose the prizes don’t watch the games. If they looked at them they would realize what Expensive is ”, they finish from the offices of the Sports City.
But although Hansen thinks that she is happy giving assists, this Sunday she dispatched with a hat-trick against Atlético. Of course, true to form, he also served Martens twice to score Barcelona’s sixth and seventh goals. But, by then, the Norwegian was already liking it. His hard work had already been done. Atlético sought to close the central alley to Barcelona. Jenni Hermoso blocked, Alexia put the peephole on the bands, land of Graham Hansen.
In any case, it was difficult for Barça to break the red and white defense. But the Catalans have plenty of resources. After a corner kick, Engen took advantage of a loose ball in the box to make it 1-0. Atlético did not give up in their desire to block Barça. And Barça resorted to strategy again. This time, with a direct foul, by Hansen. Then, Óscar Fernández’s painting broke. And, between the Norwegian, Rolfö and Martens closed a win, one more for Barcelona in the season. The azulgrana team does not stop winning. Add 25 wins in the 25 games of the season. “It was a good day to seek revenge. It was a very good match. When the group works, individualities also work”, celebrated Hansen, with the award for the best player of the match in hand. The Super Cup went to Barcelona, the ovation, in any case, went to Virginia Torrecilla.
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