Hi and welcome back to your weekly injury report by The Clochette Journal!

This week’s focus are the hamstring muscles - the injury to different extents of which lead to Lamine Yamal closing his season with FC Barcelona prematurely (but not in danger for the World Cup) and Estevão risking his appearance on the world’s greatest football stage.

What are the hamstring muscles?

Your hamstrings are located in the back of your thigh, starting at your pelvis and extending to your knee. Hamstring tendons attach them to bones in your pelvis, knee and lower leg. The three hamstring muscles are:

• Biceps femoris. This muscle is on the outside of the back of your thigh. Its function is to flex your knee, extend your thigh at your hip and rotate your lower leg from side-to-side when your knee is bent.

• Semimembranosus. This muscle is on the innermost side of the back of your thigh. It flexes your knee joint, extends your thigh at your hip, and rotates your hip and lower leg.

• Semitendinosus. This muscle is between your semimembranosus and biceps femoris. Its function is the same as your semimembranosus. 1

In short, the functions of the hamstrings are: bending your knees, and extending and rotating your hips.

How are the strains graded?

HSIs are commonly graded as follows:

• Grade I - microscopic tearing with minor swelling and discomfort and little to no loss of strength;

• Grade II - gross partial tear with clear weakness;

• Grade III - complete rupture with total loss of function.^2,6-8 Grade III HSIs are often traumatic injuries, such as might occur during water-skiing when there is forceful hip flexion while the knee is in full extension.2

Treatment3

The primary goals of a rehabilitation protocol for hamstring injuries is to return the athlete to sport at the prior level of performance, and to minimize risk of reinjury.(26)

Three phases of rehabilitation for acute hamstring strains has been described and should be followed in a progressive nature.(26, 55)

Phase I focuses on decreasing pain and edema, prevention of scar formation, development of neuromuscular control at slow speed and prevention of excessive lengthening.(26, 55) Initial management of hamstring strains in the acute phase includes the RICE protocol of rest, ice, compression and elevation.(1, 10, 14, 34)

Phase II of rehabilitation involves increase in the intensity and range of motion of the exercises, initiation of eccentric resistance exercises, and neuromuscular training at faster speeds.(26, 55) However, hamstring lengthening to end range should be avoided if there is still weakness during this phase.(26, 55) Ice can be used as needed for pain associated with exercise and rehabilitation. The intensity and speed of neuromuscular control, agility and trunk stabilization exercises are progressively increased.(26) Eccentric strengthening exercises for the hamstrings are also initiated during this phase.

Phase III of rehabilitation involves more advanced neuromuscular control and eccentric strengthening exercises as well as sport-specific exercises with the goal of returning the athlete to play. The athlete generally has no restriction of range of motion during this phase. Progressive ability and trunk stabilization exercises should incorporate more sport-specific drills and dynamic agility exercises.(26, 55) Eccentric hamstring strengthening exercises can be progressed toward end range of motion.(26, 55)

Recovery and return to pitch

Many sources that abide by the three-grade injury classification state that a grade 1 injury usually takes 2 to 5 days to heal; grade 2 usually takes 4 to 8 weeks, and grade 3 can take months to heal completely.

Where do Lamine Yamal and Estevão stand?

Tests this Thursday have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has suffered a hamstring injury in his left leg.

The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. He will miss the remainder of the league season but is expected to be available for the World Cup.4

This is the only report we have from the official club website. It can be suspected that he has a grade 2 injury.

Estevao suffered a grade four hamstring injury against Manchester United, which has potentially put his participation at the World Cup in doubt.

Calum McFarlane has confirmed Estevao won’t play for Chelsea again this season, and he ends his debut campaign with eight goals and four assists in 36 appearances in all competitions.5

With the World Cup less than two months away, it is possible that Estevão returns on time, but that all depends on how his recovery process goes.

Hamstring injury and fast food: fact or fiction?

I had a very “are you being for real right now?” moment when reading that statement, but oh well.

Goal.com reports the harsh criticism launched by Juan Furlanich of DSports, who is reported to have told Futbol Total after Yamal got injured:

“It’s unbelievable that Lamine Yamal injured himself today taking a penalty kick. And let’s put aside the irony or humor, it’s completely real: he injured himself taking a penalty kick.

“A footballer who less than 48 hours ago was jokingly eating fast food while arriving in the early hours of the morning on a private plane, 48 hours before a match. I believe that all of this is not a coincidence, that it is not something that ends up being fortuitous and that ends up being the product of misfortune or bad luck.

“It has to do with the consequences of probably not being well, not resting well, not taking care of yourself, and taking risks, and ending up with what happened. It’s not a stolen photo; he himself boasted about these things.”

God forbid an 18-year old celebrates after winning Laureus World Young Sportsperson of the Year Award. Furlanich could have criticised Yamal for choosing McDonald’s given the latter’s links to the IOF in their campaigns in Palestine, but no one wants to go that far.

They see Yamal get injured while taking a penalty, they see his “lifestyle” - not justifying anything, just saying it’s not something unusual in football - and this incredible player becomes someone they can take shots at.

The truth is: no, a cheat day has nothing to do with a hamstring injury. An injury in sports almost never happens because of an isolated instance - save for nasty fouls or unfortunate moments. Therefore, while a poor diet does influence muscle mass, energy and performance, breaking the diet in isolated instances doesn’t impact the body to that extent.

The reason why Yamal got injured is most likely to have come because of having played to the highest intensity for the entire season, especially starting from the return match against Atleti in Copa del Rey, up until the last one against Celta.

Comments such as those of Furlanich can be frustrating, especially when you know what actually impacts muscles and what doesn’t, but, well, we cannot educate everyone.

Wishing speedy recoveries to both Estevão and Lamine Yamal and hopefully they fully regain their form for the World Cup.

Until next time,

x,

The Clochette Journal

P.S. This post was written for educational purposes only. At no point is it aimed to hurt and/ or discourage anyone going through the same recovery process. A full professional consult is advised at all times.

A new addition to The Clochette Journal, focused on explaining injuries from a prognostic point of view. I originally planned to start with the most frequent ones and then dive into individual occurrences, but as you know, stuff happens. Hence, putting the time I’m spending in med school to good use on this blog too, I will be picking some very impactful injuries and simplifying them in quick reads.

Starting today with an injury that couldn’t come at a worse timing, suffered by a player that a lot of fans were hoping to see at the World Cup with France.

On April 15th, medical tests at Liverpool facilities confirmed that the Achilles tendon injury that Hugo Ekitike suffered during the UCL clash against PSG were serious and he will miss the World Cup.

It was soon confirmed by the player himself via an Instagram post, where he expressed his sadness and, at the same time, his gratitude towards the club and the fans for their support.

Achilles tendon rupture - what is it and why is the recovery so difficult?

The Achilles tendon is the ligament that serves as the point of connection between the superficial calf muscles (m. gastrocnemius and m. soleus) and the heel bone (calcaneus). The contracting calf muscles lift the heel by this tendon, thus producing a foot action that is basic to walking, running, and jumping. The Achilles tendon is the thickest and most powerful tendon in the body.1

Given its function and position, the Achilles tendon is often prone to inflammation (tendonitis), microtears (that provoke pain and swelling) and ruptures. A rupture means the full tearing of the tendon, which in se, provokes the displacement towards the upper side of the calcanear area of the fibrous structures connected to it. Treatment for the rupture includes surgery and immobilisation of the ankle for weeks or months, depending on gravity of the injury.

In Ekitike’s case, reports say he might be out for some part of the next season as well. And if the latest post of Hugo’s finsta managed to find your for you page on Instagram, you can see him shooting hoops with his right foot cast in a Walking Boot, supported by a tiny bike.

How did it happen?

If you look up the specific clip, you’ll see that there was no prior contact. Ekitike was about to make a sprint when he went down immediately, holding the back of his thigh - which, understandably, can be mistaken for a hamstring injury.

These sort of ruptures are the most dangerous ones, as they occur after prolonged periods of overwork, particularly in athletes whose sport requires sprints, sudden stops and starts, etc, because it means that the tendon has been used to its limit and reached the point of no return - which is, obviously, the rupture. Recovery, in this case, might take the longer and minute management has to be excellent, to avoid further strains.

Apart from surgery and immobilisation, a period of prolonged rehab has to be ensured. Usually people get back to their former level in 6 months, however it’s necessary to continue strength and stability training after that.2

So, what is the prognosis for a player like Ekitike?

Personally, he is one of my current favourite strikers. His ability to get past opponents so easily is fascinating for a player of his stature, not to mention the clear advantages in areal duels and excellent positioning on the field.

This injury, however, changes many things. A very aggressive rehabilitation and impatience to return full-force increase the risk of a relapse.

Therefore, the rehabilitation approach should be chosen carefully.

Exercise focus is typically low impact for the first 6 months, with high-impact exercises incorporated after 6 months, emphasising a return to sport as appropriate. Data has shown a need for a heavy focus on calf strengthening within the first year of injury as a reduction in strength gain potential has been demonstrated beyond the one-year post-injury date.3

Generally, the prognosis is excellent, with studies and records showing elite athletes being given the medical green light to return on the pitch within 9 months. It is always advisable, however, to keep muscle mass under control through exercise and nutrition, as well as managing the minutes excellently to avoid relapse.

It is a tricky injury to handle once the recovery has been completed - much more difficult than the ACL - but it’s not impossible as long as the objectives are clear on both sides and the adequate support is guaranteed.

Wishing Ekitike a full, miraculous recovery and hoping to never see such episodes repeated again!

x,

The Clochette Journal

P.S. This post was written for educational purposes only. At no point is it aimed to hurt and/ or discourage anyone going through the same recovery process. A full professional consult is advised at all times.

The new Camp Nou has a current maximum capacity of approximately 62.000 spectators. The latest El Clásico – UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter final return leg – had an attendance of almost 60.000 supporters.

Full house for a women’s match. It ended 12-2 on aggregate, in favour of the Catalans who advance to the next round.

Despite the lobbying and the campaigns, the (insufficient) funding and the attention that every woman who’s into football is trying to redirect towards this part of the sport, we are yet to find out a fanbase so loving and supportive of their filial femenino as the FC Barcelona fanbase is. (I am a little biased, but I might be 98% right).

The filial femenino was born in 1970, when Immaculada Cabecerán – a culer through and through, who grew up playing street football with her brother – approached then-Barcelona president, Augustí Montal, in November 1970, with the proposition of starting a FC Barcelona women’s team. The president told her that the club would support them, if they managed to organise themselves. And of course, they did.

60,000 people gave a standing ovation to Cabecerán on 25^th December, 1970, when she was handed the trophy of their first victory for a charity match in the Camp Nou.

60,000 people attended the El Clásico on April 2nd, 2026, to cheer for the invincibles – a nickname they earned after winning 16-0 to Calella, on May 16, 1971.

It cannot be denied that the real success of FCB Femení begun in 2015, when they were professionalised. Well, it did not begin immediately. The first few years they struggled, as the team dynamics were destabilised, but soon they found their way back.

The principle was – and still is – simple: less activity in the transfer market, unless absolutely necessary, more focus on homegrown talent.

In the 2020s, the team has increased the numbers of their supporters, with long-time FC Barcelona supporters now following them. El Periódico wrote in 2024 that the team plays for people “who have become hooked on [their] way of playing and understanding football”.^[110] And this is, in my opinion, the best way to put it.

Some of today’s best teams in women’s football come as branches of clubs that have historically played entertaining football – Bayern München, Olympique Lyon, Arsenal (forgive them this season), Chelsea (forgive them in their post-Abramovic era), etc.

The one whose men’s team philosophy doesn’t apply to their women’s side – from the top flight teams, at least – is Real Madrid. Their “galacticos” approach doesn’t apply when the most valuable talent on the market cannot be bought. If we’re taking the Ballon d’Or as a measuring unit, from the moment it was introduced in women’s football in 2018, it has been won 5 times out of 7 by a FC Barcelona player (with the exception of the 2020 edition, which was cancelled altogether). Specifically by Alexia Putellas in 2021 and 2022 and Aitana Bonmatí in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Therefore, you cannot “pull a Figo 2.0” when two of the best current players have been breathing blaugrana all their lives.

The two of the most prominent women footballers, who have significant numbers of followers and admirers among fans, had it just as difficult to become pro as their male colleagues.

Aitana Bonmatí, for example, had to play in boys’ teams for most of her junior career, as girls-only teams were not available in her area. Starting out as a defender, she soon spotted out for her "ability to steal the ball and initiate attacks [that] showcased her strength on the pitch"* Aitana was later moved to the midfield to have more influence upfront.

Alexia Putellas started out also as the youngest and weakest player, soon earning captainship through her ability to “find space where there was none”. During the academy restructuring, she had to leave Barcelona, her dream club, and play for Espanyol for 5 seasons and one for Levante, only to come back wearing the blaugrana colours in 2012.

In an interview for Guillem Balague, a BBC Sports Columnist, Marta Unzue (who joined the club in 2006 and made about 280 appearances for them over a 14-year spell, including three years as club captain between 2014-17) is reported to have said: “[…] Playing conditions were primitive. Surfaces were dirt pitches that doubled as car parks on matchdays and changing rooms were sheds crammed with up to 30 people and fitted with inadequate showers that would always quickly run out of hot water.” The article continues to explain further disadvantages that the female players faced amid incredibly low club budget and having to work other jobs while being full-time professional athletes, despite the FCB Femení having been professionalised in 2015.

So how did they go from having sheds as dressing rooms to being (arguably) the most feared team in Europe?

According to several sources1, with Markel Zubizarreta as team manager in 2015 and later as a sporting director, the goal was clear: maintain the blaugrana identity, bring in homegrown talent and display the same entertaining football you see in men’s team.

“A €3.5m (£2.95m) shirt sponsorship deal with hardware company Stanley finally guaranteed players the salaries they needed to focus full-time on football, helping to ensure financial stability and making the women’s section financially independent from the men’s side.

A women’s academy at La Masia was established, creating a level playing field with the boys at the club. Investment in physiotherapists and nutritionists to ensure that all players would be as fit and healthy as they could possibly be also reaped dividends.

Finally, time, effort, seriousness - and above all, respect - were being invested in women’s football, creating a model of what women’s sport could look like at its best.

A move from grounds outside the Camp Nou to the Estadi Johan Cruyff, which is located at Barca’s training facility and has a capacity of 6,000, helped to increase attendances.”2

While many talents were scouted from other clubs and academies, they have either been raised with the total football identity or can easily adapt to it. Claudia Pina, for example, was brought in from Espanyol, Vicky López came from Madrid CFF, Sydney Joy Schertenleib was transferred in 2024 from Grasshopper Club Zürich, while Salma Paralluelo came from Villarreal - and yet, when you see them link up with Alexia, Aitana, or Patri Guijarro, you’d think they came from the ranks of La Masia, just as Lamine Yamal, Marc Bernal, Fermin López and Gavi.

It seems that what Immaculada Cabecerán and her teammates started more than half a century ago has been already established in these past five years and keeps solidifying.

From an El Clásico attendance on March 30, 2022 (Camp Nou, 91,553) that broke the previous record for a women’s match (90,185) set in 1990, Pasadena Rose Bowl in California, for the USA vs. China World Cup Final to selling out all the available seats in the new Camp Nou, for another El Clásico, this FC Barcelona side has already won the hearts of the fanbase.

It can be said without a doubt that, for many teams, the love of the badge can keep the fans only for so long. If the football is boring, the team eventually gets abandoned.

Not in the case of FC Barcelona. Not in the case of FCB Femení. The football these players show on the field is of the old school type - impeccable team harmony, the love for the badge and the colours, lots of individual quality, and golazos you rarely witness in men’s professional football anymore.

This is something that money can’t (fully) buy. It’s the inner culture of the club; it’s the principles that the club is built on.

Immaculada Cabecerán wasn’t turned down when she asked for a women’s team, despite the gender politics of the time. They were given the Camp Nou to play in.

The move to Estadi Johan Cruyff wasn’t random. It was to provide the team with their own ground and facilities, despite the club’s financial struggles.

The project to include women’s dressing rooms at the new Camp Nou is also no coincidence. It shows the club’s long term commitment not only to equality, but serves as a testament to their determination to give their beautiful game the right space.

Aitana chose to stay in Barcelona, even though she was considering a move to the US when women’s football was at its peak there.

This is the love for the badge. This is the love that the club implies on you.

Therefore, the least we can say is that, as far as Barcelona is concerned, the future of women’s football is bright.

Keep balling and keep cheering!

x,

The Clochette Journal

I reviewed Levante Badalona vs. FCB Femení last year, before the free broadcast became unavailable. You can find it in the article below.

Women’s club football returns this week after the international break, with the FCB Femení getting ready for tomorrow’s derbi barceloní against Espanyol. The weekend is something to keep an eye on, as Barcelona face Bayern away, while Arsenal welcomes Lyon at home on Sunday, for the respective first legs of UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinals.

After a thrilling derby in RCDE Stadium on Saturday night, I think it is only fair to dive in a little deeper in the history of this rivalry that is believed to have been galvanised more than 100 years ago - in 1918, to be precise, when “… the municipalities of Catalonia promoted a campaign to ask the Spanish Government for a Statute of Autonomy. FC Barcelona joined that request and the Catalan press recognised FC Barcelona as a major cultural arm of the Catalan independence movement. The city's other team, RCD Espanyol, dissociated itself from the claim due to the former's success on the European stage.” - Wikipedia.

Since then, the Espanyol ground(s) have been one of the toughest stadiums for FC Barcelona to play in during their La Liga runs, with the pericos making sure to express their disdain towards Barça. The rivalry, particularly in recent decades, has felt one-sided due to Barcelona’s superiority in individual and systemic talent and excellence, as well as political influence, with the blaugrana club being considered the team of the Catalan pride and often launching campaigns to honour and promote the Catalan culture and language. When Barcelona has fought for titles and prestige in the Champions League, Espanyol has often found itself fighting for survival in La Liga and even got relegated after a minimal derby loss in 2020.

With all these disparities, you’d think the blaugranas - players and fans alike - would choose to be the bigger person and let the hate coming from their city rivals subside with benevolent disregard. They don’t. Neither the fans (from whom it is expectable) nor the players, many of whom either have Catalan roots or come from the youth ranks of La Masia or both.

So, when FC Barcelona mathematically won La Liga last season at RCDE Stadium, I wasn’t surprised when I heard the verses of “Perico, dime lo que se siente…” chanted during celebrations, though I wasn’t really expecting the players to join the chants.

What does it mean?

The chanting pattern is similar to others heard across European stadiums and beyond. A similar song was created by Argentinian fans during the 2014 Word Cup in Brazil, titled “Brasil, decime qué se siente” (meaning, Brazil, tell me how it feels) - sometimes replacing “siente” (feels) with “siete” (seven), recalling Brazil’s inglorious defeat against Germany. The Brazilians did strike back after the final in Maracaná, when Argentina lost minimally against the same German team, chanting “Argentina, me diz como se sente”.

It is a chant sung from opposing fans as a way of trolling the losing team or reminding them of their past defeats and humiliations. In the case of el derbi barceloní, the culers sing this after defeating their city rivals in their own stadium.

Verse by verse analysis

Perico, dime lo que se siente tener tu casa en Cornellà - Perico means parrot in Spanish, which is, at the same time, Espanyol’s club mascot. Barcelona fans are asking the parrots how it feels to have their house in Cornellà - a suburban area in Barcelona where RCDE Stadium is located.

Te juro que aunque pasen los años, nunca lo vamos a olvidar - I swear that even as the years pass, we’re never going to forget.

Derribamos Sarrià, fuisteis a la montaña y después te echamos de nuestra ciudad - we took down Sarrià, you went to the mountain and then we chased you out of our city, referring to Espanyol’s former and current stadium locations.

From 1923 - 1997, Espanyol hosted their home games at Estadi de Sarrià, in the Sarrià - Sant Gervasi district of Barcelona. Then, they moved to Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on the hill of Montjuïc (hence, the mention of the mountain), and finally settling on the outskirts of Barcelona in Cornellà (also known as Estadi Cornellà-El Prat) between Cornellà de Llobregat and El Prat de Llobregat.

Bajasteis de División, para poder ser campeón, rezaremos por tu desaparición - very kindly reminding their disadvantaged rivals of their most recent relegation in 2020 - when they even won the Spanish Segunda División in the 2020-2021 season - and even promising a prayer for their disappearing.

A derby is always heated and intense, even in cases when the sporting differences between the teams are evident. The clashes between respective fanbases have a precedent for being violent, with a blaugrana ultras fan also having been charged with the murder of an Espanyol fan outside of Camp Nou in 1991. Police scrutiny has been increased ever since on derby days, focusing on providing safety to the attending fans, players and team staff. This is one of the examples of taking the passion to the extreme, something that should be actively fought against (and it has nothing to do with the utter woke nonsense).

Using chants as ragebait is one thing, but being responsible humans is what should always come first, despite the results, the transfers or whatever happens on the pitch. Luckily, no incidents were reported from last night.

There was one extra reason for this derby to receive attention outside of Spain - the return of the goalkeeper who just last season saved Espanyol from relegation, before joining FC Barcelona. Posters depicting Joan García as a rat and a traitor were showed before and during the game, while the player was booed whenever he was in possession. This, however, did not influence his performance in the least - winning MOTM in the match that was his most difficult test yet, both mentally and play-wise.

In conclusion, just like with almost everything about football, the greater sentiments go beyond the confines of the football pitch, and for a people who have always fought for autonomy, siding with the oppressor - no matter how slight, no matter if it is just silence or “neutrality” - cannot be forgotten, even after a century. So this is why, perhaps, even the players feel this match so deeply.

Remember to enjoy the beautiful game for what it is!

x

The Clochette Journal

Saturday, 1³⁰ p.m. – Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea

1. Good start from Newcastle, finding 2 goals with Nick Woltemade, pressing well and being aggressive, making life difficult to Chelsea, who seemed to be struggling.

2. The opposite happened in the second half, with Chelsea pressing really well and seeking their first goal.

3. Reece James with an amazing free kick goal.

4. Newcastle had problems continuing with the first-half intensity and perhaps the subs weren’t as efficient, as Chelsea found their equaliser in the 66^th minute with João Pedro.

5. The tie was somewhat justified, with each team having one good half.

Saturday, 6³⁰ p.m. – Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool

A game that had everything – two red cards, a lot of chances, the drama and the fight to pull a dying-minutes Remontada.

1. Tottenham were seeking their goal but kept making some easily avoidable mistakes.

2. Unfortunate red card for Simons – Tottenham down to 10 men in the 33^rd minute.

3. Liverpool was, however, slow in transition, though unintentionally.

4. Even with 10 men, Tottenham played courageously and had their fair chance of scoring opportunities.

5. Liverpool being indecisive in the final 3^rd is a repeated pattern.

6. Exquisite gegenpressing from Tottenham; Spence had an amazing game.

7. Isak found his second goal of the season, but suffered what seemed like a very serious injury.

8. Normally, when a team goes down to ten men, you expect them to park the bus, but this wasn’t the case with Tottenham – they simply refused to do so and found their goal with Richarlison. Chapeau!

9. Tottenham kept going forward even after Romero’s red in the dying minutes.

10. The final result is unconvincing – LFC risked dropping points until the very end.

Saturday 9 p.m. – Real Madrid 2-0 Sevilla

1. A game without much history. Real Madrid did win fair and square, also given the absences they had. Great game from Bellingham and Huijsen.

2. Sevilla pressed well, came close to scoring but Courtois was spectacular.

3. Alexis Sanchez kept delivering beyond his age – absolutely outstanding.

4. Mbappe equalled Ronaldo’s records of 59 goals scored in a calendar year.

5. Second place safely secured for the Madrid team, who now sit four points behind Barcelona and five points above Atlético de Madrid.

Sunday, 4³⁰ p.m. – Villarreal 0-2 Barcelona

1. Namely, the most important match in La Liga, with Barcelona wanting to secure their first place and Villarreal wanting to continue their positive streak.

2. Difficult first minutes for Barcelona in Estadio de la Cerámica, with Villarreal confirming they are in the top four for a reason.

3. Barcelona’s defenders were mistaking simple passes, partly because their opponents were positioned really well.

4. Lamine Yamal, Raphina, Joan García – all exceptional performances.

5. Without Pedri, De Jong and Eric García had a tough job to do and it showed in the first half. Noticeable improvement in the second half for Barcelona’s midfield, given the fact that Marc Bernal was also subbed it.

6. Mikautadze’s entrance also made an impact in Villarreal’s attack – some amazing chances that were saved by Joan García.

7. Subbing in Rashford and Lewandowski for Fermín and Ferran reinforced Barcelona’s attack, which then led to the second goal.

Overall, a good match for the Catalans, which end the year leading the league. The unconvincing and inconsistent defence performances make us wonder whether this Barcelona side will achieve anything big this season, but it is something yet to be seen. If they can reinforce during this winter’s transfer window (January 1^st – February 2^nd), maybe we’ll see some positive changes. Names such as Alessandro Bastoni, Joško Gvardiol and more have been linked as possible targets of the blaugrana team, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Thank you for reading!

If you enjoyed this article or have anything to add, you can write your opinions below in the comment section!

x The Clochette Journal

Saturday, 4 p.m. - Chelsea 2-0 Everton

1. Palmer returns with a goal. Amazing 3-pass setup from the left.

2. Both goals were stunning, but I guess that was all there was to see from this match. Unfortunate scheduling since both Chelsea and Liverpool played at the same time.

Saturday, 4 p.m. - Liverpool 2-0 Brighton

1. Early Ekitike golazo helped build a somewhat Liverpool momentum. They had good circulation, but troubles getting close to Brighton’s goal. Merits of high-line and solid midfield.

2. Szoboszlai was everywhere – the most consistent player of this LFC side.

3. Ekitike is really good, but there are things he should sharpen up, particularly in finalising.

4. Play-wise, Liverpool did almost everything correctly, but had problems in the final 3^rd.

5. Brighton had their chances as well, even came really close to scoring with Brajan Gruda. Their defence was also solid.

6. Looks like Liverpool won thanks to the players’ individual abilities, rather than something from the coach. Adding Salah led to an assist from the corner, but it could’ve been anyone, really. It did look like he was trying to fix things.

7. Chiesa still got subbed in at the 83^rd minute – gave an amazing pass to Salah, but the Egyptian was unlucky.

8. Nothing notable from Isak too – still needs time to adapt to Liverpool’s system, maybe.

Saturday, 6³⁰ p.m. - Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna

1. Barcelona started the match well, against an Osasuna that entered the pitch thinking of nothing but defence. It was a frustrating and impermeable defence, all en bloc, with very tall players. The goalkeeper did a good job for the most part, denying opportunities to Rashford and Yamal.

2. Ferran Torres’ goal was disallowed for a ridiculous offside, but this is not the first time.

3. Lamine Yamal kept dancing through defenders consistently – wonderful from the 18-year-old.

4. Pedri showed Iniesta in the stands that his jersey number is safe. A masterclass from the midfield maestro, controlling the tempo and opening up the play.

5. Raphina and Yamal taking turns as number 10s was wonderful to see. Raphina can be dangerous as CAM, because, supported by Pedri and De Jong in the back, it gives him a real advantage in attacking.

6. Barcelona kept losing patience, attempting long shots, especially in the first half, but it’s a normal sign of immaturity in such a young team.

7. Gerard Martín, Eric García, Cubarsí played great. Cubarsí has a long way to go to become a world class defender, but there is so much potential in him.

8. Rashford also had a great game – positive notes on him, as well.

9. Barcelona now sits comfortably at the top of the table, 4 points difference from Real Madrid.

It looks like Barcelona has really improved from the match against Chelsea, particularly in La Liga, but will they be able to keep up in the Champions League, as well?

Saturday, 9 p.m. - Arsenal 2-1 Wolves

1. Saka aimed for the goal from the corner, with the ball that hit the goalkeeper’s head and went to the back of the net.

2. Arsenal was expected to dominate the game and that is what they did.

3. Unfortunate for Wolves though – the goalkeeper was doing a great job.

4. Two own goals gave Arsenal the victory and now they sit at the top of the table, with a two-point difference from Man City.

Sunday, 12³⁰ p.m. - Milan 2-2 Sassuolo

1. Milan fought hard for the three points, but Sassuolo and Kosova’s goalkeeper, Arijanet Muric, was simply impermeable for the most part. Two amazing saves within the same attack and much more in the second half.

2. Milan had some excellent goalscoring opportunities, with one goal also being cancelled for offside.

3. Pulisic was subbed off too early.

4. The goals from both sides were beautiful however this result does not benefit Milan. They now sit one point behind Inter, who gained their first place after an away win against Genoa.

Sunday, 3 p.m. - Crystal Palace 0-3 Man City

1. Crystal Palace was dangerous in the first half, missing many chances. Donnarumma proved crucial with his saves.

2. City go ahead in the 40^th minute with Haaland taking advantage from a wonderful cross from Nunes.

3. Crystal Palace should have scored a couple of goals, as they had a great game in their stadium, but lacked accuracy in the final 3^rd.

4. The Cherki-Foden duo is wonderful to see. Rayan Cherki is the type of footballer that is rare to find in today’s top leagues: he dribbles, takes chances, has the fine touch of a street baller – remember the wonderful rabona assist to Foden last game. Trying to make him fit a rigid system would be a shame.

5. An important victory for Man City on a difficult ground, but this does not undo the chaos they are defensively and in the midfield.

Sunday, 9 p.m.- Alavés 1-2 Real Madrid

1. It was evident that Real Madrid entered the pitch with a sense of urgent motivation to win.

2. They had quite a few chances in the first half – one of which resulted in a goal from Mbappe.

3. Bellingham’s goal was disallowed for a handball – the Spanish referees have to have some consistency with their calls, because it has already become ridiculous.

4. Courtois has been saving his team day in, day out. The only consistent player on that team, together with Mbappe, who does his job by scoring.

5. Positive notes on Valdepeñas, as well. The debuting left back had big shoes to fill, but did his job relatively well.

6. Asencio needs to be banned from playing football. The way that nasty kick towards the Alavés player, being completely uninterested in the ball, went unpunished is flabbergasting.

7. Vinicius kept getting dispossessed; did a good job in the second goal, assisting Rodrygo. The penalty should have also been given.

8. Immediate impact from Vincente for the Alavés side. The control, the finish and the way he avoided the Madrid defence was simply lovely.

9. Alavés kept looking for the equaliser and deserved to get one point.

10. Positive notes on Bellingham, Rodrygo and Güler as well. The problems, however, seem far from resolved.

El futbol femení – Levante Badalona 1-5 FCB Femení

1^st half

1. Barcelona entered the pitch without Aitana (long injury) and Alexia (benched). An early goal gave them momentum, but Badalona defended well, both with a low block and one on one marking, seeking to go forward with counter attacks and high pressing.

2. A mistake of Mapi Leon during a crowded episode in Barcelona’s area led to the equaliser.

3. Some wrong passes from Mapi Leon, not from bad positioning more than from the rushing to go ahead.

4. Absolute solid defence from the Badalona side in the first half.

5. GOLAZO de Claudia Pina to put Barcelona ahead before half time. She is also excellent in dropping back to receive the ball and open up the play, not sticking to her left side positioning.

2^nd half

1. Mapi Leon subbed off, hopefully as a preventive matter and not because of an actual injury. Laia Alexandri, on the other hand, was absolutely amazing.

2. Barcelona dominated both phases, but Badalona was also tough. If not for Cata Coll, Laia and co, the match might have gone differently.

3. Barcelona lacking precision in the last minutes, courtesy of the injuries and the subs made to keep players for the midweek match against PSG.

4. The Vicky – Aïcha link-up on the right side is lethal.

Generally: a solid win for Barcelona, without the main players and an important match midweek. Badalona also put up a great fight.

Prolonged VAR checks after every goal are quite annoying.

Note: this is something that I thought of doing some time ago, since I would watch the games either way. I am 99% sure I will not do this again; it’s a full time job and I am a full time student. It was fun adding all these matches to my calendar and taking messy notes on my little black notebook.

Thank you for reading!

x, The Clochette Journal

I will, however, keep writing about football - match analyses and other things that make this sport great will be an indispensable part of my content. If you found this interesting, you can subscribe below for free, to never miss a post!

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“Tell your husband that he is a bad player and he should leave our club and never return again and he will never have a better career in his football lifetime… tell him to leave FC Barcelona please we do not need him anymore” was a comment, followed by angry emojis (and no punctuation), under Abigail Olivera’s comment section. Ms. Olivera is the wife of one of FC Barcelona’s captains, Ronald Araújo.

Oh well, how did we get here?

November 25^th. UEFA Champions League, Matchday 5.

Chelsea FC welcomed FC Barcelona at the Stamford Bridge in a much-anticipated clash from both teams and their respective fanbases. The hosts were coming from an excellent run at the end of the last season, winning the UEFA Conference League trophy against Real Betis, as well as being crowned world champions after beating Paris Saint Germain in Club’s World Cup final. This season has also started strong, with Chelsea FC sitting second in the English Premier League table, six points behind Arsenal.*

FC Barcelona, on the other hand, came from a very intense, almost perfect season. They won the domestic treble – La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Supercup – and were two minutes away from being at the UEFA Champions League final against PSG. This year, however, something seems to be off. With injuries and the overload taking over, FC Barcelona lost their match against PSG in the dying minutes and the first El Clásico of the new season in Santiago Bernabéu. In La Liga, they are also second, with a single point difference from the leading Real Madrid.*

Still, this match felt different. FC Barcelona had just celebrated their return to their renovated stadium, the Camp Nou (renamed Spotify Camp Nou), with a 4-0 win against Athletic Bilbao and they were walking into the Stamford Bridge with the confidence that, although it would be a difficult match, victory wasn’t impossible.

It turned out much more difficult than anticipated. In an ignited Stamford Bridge, an own goal gave Chelsea the advantage, foul after foul, offside after offside – Chelsea was barging forward, often unpunished for their unsportsmanlike play and Barcelona seemed to be having no idea what was going on.

To top it off, captain Ronald Araújo gets a very suspicious first yellow – and here is why: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea’s right back) fouls Lamine Yamal and does not get booked. Araújo, with the power delegated to him by the captain’s armband approaches the referee in protest.

(For those who aren’t aware: a new rule in football specifies that only the team’s captain has the right to approach the referee to ask for explanation.)

Explanation was not given to Araújo and he gets his first yellow.

(Funny thing is that the referee is then shown talking – maybe explaining the decision – to Frenkie de Jong, another team captain, but who obviously did not have that duty at the time.)

Fast forward to the 44^th minute, Araújo commits a very common – and also bookable – tackle on Marc Cucurella. Second yellow. Red Card. FC Barcelona would have to start the second half with ten men.

Ok. And? This is not the first time the same player has committed fouls that have led to him being expelled from the match – but he is NOT the first and only player in football history to do it. A reminder that Real Madrid’s former captain, Sergio Ramos, is perhaps the most red-carded captain in football history, but he was never thrown under the bus, as much as I can remember. Nor has anyone gone to his wife’s Instagram page to tell her that her husband is a failure – and Ramos was a dirty defender.

The difference, however, is that Ramos gets praised and hailed as one of the best defenders in history – by his own fans, at least – but Araújo gets so much hate and trolling; his every move is scrutinised and no one wastes a chance to point out the same mistakes or shortcomings that every footballer on God’s Green Earth has committed.

So, why all the hate? I think sometimes people should just shut up. Seriously, they should just take a break from their phones and go hug a tree. The trolls on the Internet should get a job – or a second one, if they are already working. And if they don’t want to, then they should start seeing the game from the player’s perspective.

Ronald Araújo arrived in Barcelona in 2018, at 19 years old, first playing with the B team and making his debut with the first team one year later and has been indispensable during the team’s rebuilding phase. He has all the physical qualities you look for in a classic central defender: tall, strong, solid one-on-one, decisive in air duels both offensively and defensively. He’s a striker converted into a central defender – an ace under the sleeve and even proved himself crucial just last month against Girona, scoring the match’s late winner. He is far from being a bad footballer.

Ok. Again, why are people hating? People think football is easy. They take the saying “22 grown men chasing the ball around for 90 minutes” seriously. They remind the players of the money they get paid. But this is not the truth.

I would actually like to see those reckless little men, filled with hate, try to play elite football for twenty minutes and see if they can do any better than the actual player. I would like to see them try the trainings these players commit to every day; I would like to see them try to keep the defence line in the midfield for 90 minutes and see if they manage to sleep at night from all the tension it requires. I would like to see them perform under immense pressure, in a difficult stadium, with fans cheering and copying your own chants (so not classy from Chelsea, by the way). I would like them teleported from behind their phone screen, into the big arena and see if they make a correct pass. Because the truth is, being a footballer is a demanding career and it’s not as easy as it’s made to be seen.

Why do fans react so badly?

Football is the sport of the masses – from England where it originated, to Latin America where it got its magic and spirit, to Europe where it got redefined, polished and more athletic, to Africa where so many brilliant players have come from and continue to emerge, to the rest of the world – on every street, there is at least one kid with the dream of becoming a professional footballer. It’s the most popular sport on the planet, for you do not need a fancy car, a nice racket, a specific type of court or a bouncy ball; sometimes, you don’t even need a ball. I have seen little boys using crushed water bottles, the size of a hockey puck, marking the goalposts with rocks or bags or sticks or even their sandals – all for a few minutes of adrenaline, all for the love of the game.

Football is the sport of big emotions, of reunion – there are families and friends that reunite on match days just to watch the game together. There are tears of joy and sadness that get shed, unrestrainable happiness and, very often, incomprehensible fury. It is the beautiful game that many people enjoy – but the last two words of the preceding sentence is where we should collectively draw the line.

This is not an article to teach people how to manage their anger – and I am not a licensed therapist, so I have no idea myself – but nothing a player can do on the pitch should push you to the limits so much, so you go the extent of disturbing his mental peace and his family. Asking for accountability is one thing, cyberbullying – even when it’s a grown man – is completely different.

If you call yourself a supporter, what exactly are you supporting when you tell another human that he will never be good enough? How many more players should come out and say they have had suffered psychologically because of what people had said to and about them? How much longer until the people on the Internet realise that their words actually get read and those same words affect others?

Don’t people realise that the man they are criticising today was once a little boy somewhere, playing on the street and through youth levels, with a big dream of being part of the grand stage?

A player cannot be evaluated by a couple of matches, an episode, a goal or a red card, even though these are things that more often than not decide matches. A player’s real values sometimes are those you cannot measure by statistics – it’s the leadership, the atmosphere they create in the dressing room, the relationship with the coach, the ability to guide teammates to victories and cheer them up after defeats. Human mistakes cannot - and should not - wipe all that away.

And, to all the Culers**, the true ones, the sceptic ones and the ignorant ones: a reminder that, when you go to FC Barcelona as a player, you do not go for money – everyone and their mothers know our financial problems – you don’t go for fame, you don’t go for personal glory. A player joins FC Barcelona for the badge, for the colours that go beyond the Camp Nou. If you know your history, you know that this is more than just a football club that competes in La Liga and Europe – this is a club that, from its founding in 1899, has built a community and has served it, a club that supports causes beyond football, so do not fall into the trap of momentary anger at the expense of the players’ well-being.

Finally, the solution? Act like grownups. This is passion and it’s understandable to get carried away, but one should be attentive and control themselves not to cross the limits of decency and harm a person’s most sacred things.

Be kind always and visca el Barça,

– TCJ

*this article was written before FC Barcelona vs. Alaves game on Saturday and Chelsea FC vs. Arsenal on Sunday.

**Culers - a nickname for FC Barcelona’s fans. The name comes from the early 20th-century practice of fans sitting on the wall surrounding their first stadium, which meant that passersby would see rows of their “culs” (the Catalan word for “backside”). The nickname has since become a term of pride for the supporters.