Barça Femení Draws 4-4 with Benfica: A Look Back at Champions League Journey

The FC Barcelona Femení secured a 4-4 draw against Benfica in the final match of the Champions League group stage. The Blaugranes had already qualified as group leaders and had nothing at stake in the game. It marked the first match of the season where the Blaugranes did not secure a win, with Benfica scoring four goals, the same number they had conceded throughout the entire season.

The draw sets the stage for the quarter-final draw on Tuesday, with Barcelona being a strong favorite. However, just a few years ago, the narrative was different, as Marina Garrido highlighted in a recent report. In 2012, only 12 years ago, FC Barcelona competed for the first time in the top European women’s competition, the Champions League, reaching the Round of 16. Melanie Serrano, the player with the most appearances for Barça, reminisces about those initial seasons in Europe. “They were the toughest, and we felt far away. We were not at the required level physically or in preparation, even though we had already won a league,” recalled Melanie Serrano, adding, “when we played the first Champions League match, we realized how far we were.”

Six years later, in the 2018-2019 season, FC Barcelona made history, reaching the Champions League final for the first time. In the 2020-2021 season, amid the pandemic, the Blaugrana achieved what they had fought for over the years: becoming champions of Europe. “Winning the Champions League was an incredible experience,” emphasized Melanie Serrano in statements to ‘Què t’hi Jugues!’ on SER Catalunya. In 2023, the Blaugrana secured their second Champions League title and continue their journey to make history in Europe.

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