Latest news with #CopadelReina
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal shock Barcelona to snatch Champions League glory
Barcelona Femeni's push for a third successive UEFA Women's Champions League title has been blocked by Arsenal. Pere Romeu's side headed into the final at Sporting CP's Estádio José Alvalade as strong favourites to win on the back of another dominant domestic campaign. Advertisement The Catalan giants defended their Liga F and Spanish Supercup titles from 2024 with a Copa del Reina final spot against Real Madrid already in the diary. However, there will not be a repeat of the 2024 trophy quadruple, as the Gunners upset the odds in the Portuguese capital. Arsenal end Barcelona's European dream in Lisbon Barcelona controlled the early stages, without really threatening Arsenal, and the English side saw an early goal ruled out. Irene Paredes' own goal was chalked off by VAR following an offside in the build up to the chance being created. Arsenal then carved out the better openings, but Barcelona improved after the restart, despite being unable to find that all-important goal. The crucial moment came with 15 minutes to go as substitute Stina Blackstenius crisply fired home from Beth Mead's superb pass. That allowed Arsenal to dig across 11 minutes of added time as Barcelona's European dream fizzled out. Barcelona Femeni's Champions League Defeat to Arsenal means Barcelona Femeni remain on three Champions League titles won from 2021, 2023 and 2024. Advertisement That keeps the Catalans as the third most successful side in the competition's history behind Eintracht Frankfurt on four and Lyon on eight. Romeu's charges still have two more games left to play this season as they take on Real Madrid in the Copa del Reina final on June 7 in Huesca. They are already through to the final of the Copa Catalunya Femenina but a date for their clash with Levante Badalona has not been set by the RFEF at this stage – but is expected to be after the other final. Images via Getty Images/One Football
The Guardian
11-02-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Espanyol hit back at Barcelona's Mapi León and say ‘footage is crystal clear'
Espanyol have insisted that the 'footage is crystal clear' and dismissed the claims of the Barcelona defender Mapi León after she denied inappropriately touching opponent Daniela Caracas in the crotch area during the city derby on Sunday. The club's next steps, including any decision over whether to take legal action, will be guided by the wishes of Caracas, with the Spanish Liga F yet to make any public statement. León was included in Barcelona's squad to play the Copa del Reina on Wednesday night. Espanyol had released a statement condemning an 'unacceptable' incident in which they alleged that León 'made a gesture with her hand that violated the intimacy of our player'. In response, the Barcelona player said late on Monday night there was 'no contact with her private parts, and certainly no intention'. 'The idea of touching the private parts of a colleague would never enter my head, it goes against my principles and I would never do such a thing,' said León. But the head of Espanyol's women's team, Dolors Ribalta, reiterated that Caracas had been touched in an intimate area and told Spanish radio: 'You have all seen the footage. There is none so blind as those who do not see.' Ribalta also denounced the insults that Caracas had received. 'Our player has had a difficult day,' she told Cadena Ser. She added that Caracas was 'in shock' and that the club would wait for the player to decide on any action she would want to take as she sought to come to terms with the situation. 'We want to defend our player, say that what happened is lamentable and continue from there [along the course] that our player decides, and [taking] whatever action she wants to take,' Ribalta said. 'We want to protect her, look after her, and [allow her] to decide what she considers best. We're doing that at a legal and psychological level. We will see what the next step is day by day.' Footage of the incident also shows León saying something to Caracas. León's statement said: 'As the images show, it was part of the play in which she deliberately touches me and I touch her leg saying in reaction to the clash: 'what's up with you'.' The Liga F, Barcelona and Espanyol have all asked for further footage of the incident. The league has contacted the parties involved but not made any statement publicly. The Spanish FA, the RFEF, will not unilaterally investigate and sanction the player and it would not be entirely their jurisdiction. They also have not made any statement. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion A statement from the Spanish player's union, the AFE, condemned 'any inadequate conduct in football' but did not name either player or their clubs. In a statement, FIFPro, by contrast, cited the incident directly and said that it has contacted all parties in an attempt to 'clarify' events. Espanyol have not been contacted by Barcelona or León.
