WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
Alexia Putellas involved in FC Barcelona Femení squad against Chelsea in the Champions League
The Spaniard has been out of action since July 2022 and was finally cleared to play on the eve of Barça’s semi-final against Chelsea.
In the end, a simple message would do. No need for a fancy video, for a long, drawn-out explanation, the news in itself was enough: Alexia Putellas has been medically discharged. The double Ballon d’Or winner had been out of action since July 2022 when she broke her ACL before Spain’s Euro 2022 campaign began but now, nine months later, she is back and ready to go.
Alexia had been training as normal with her teammates for a few weeks, with manager Jonatan Giráldez saying that she “had options to be part of the squad” for Thursday’s semi-final second leg against Chelsea at Camp Nou. Barcelona go into the game with a slender 1-0 advantage after Graham Hansen’s goal was enough to separate the sides, but now a return for Alexia might make that one goal lead feel like ten.
Will Alexia play against Chelsea?
Giráldez kept his cards close to his chest regarding a potential return for the midfielder, saying that they “won’t risk anything” when it comes to her first steps on the pitch. Barcelona will take on the English side without right-back Lucy Bronze, after the player suffered a knee strain which will keep her out for “a couple of weeks”. She should be back well in time for the Women’s World Cup, which begins on July 20 2023.
However, shortly after the announcement of her leaving the medical room, the club announced that Alexia was part of the squad for the game at Camp Nou.
Barcelona need everything they have to beat one of England and Europe’s best teams, and having the two-time Ballon d’Or winner in the squad will come as both a physical and mental boost for both players and fans involved in the game. Finally, the famous number 11 shirt will be back in action for Barça.