Less than a year ago, in the same scenario, Barcelona lost for the first time in their history against Real Madrid. After that match, not without refereeing controversies, the Blaugrana were aware that they had not expressed their best level. The frustration came not only with the badly disallowed goal against Jana Fernández, but with the manner in which the defeat occurred. “It did a lot of damage. Now we have a new opportunity. They will remember it and want to repeat it, but we are strong”, recognizes Irene Paredes. The memory is still present. “We have more desire to win than ever,” underlines Claudia Pina. Pere Romeu, the Blaugrana coach, warns against letting oneself be carried away by emotions: “You have to play with your head as well as your heart.” The classic presents itself as a test and a prelude to the duel against Chelsea next Thursday in the Champions League, two matches that will mark the course of the season for a Barça who have scored goals in 10 out of 13 matches, even if they recently lost against Real Sociedad. Between the desire for revenge and a more mature team than a year ago, there is a decisive absence: that of Patri Guijarro, whose return is not expected before 2026.
“Everyone knows that it is impossible to replace Patri. She is unique, magical every time she takes the field. Any team would notice her absence”, explained Graham Hansen speaking of the midfielder. Guijarro suffered a stress fracture in the scaphoid in his right foot in mid-October, with an estimated recovery time of three months. The Balearic player is fundamental in the functioning of the midfield, as well as the team. It is no coincidence that she is the second top scorer of all time against Real Madrid, tied with Ewa Pajor, with seven goals, behind Alexia Putellas’ ten. A year ago he scored twice to open the scoring and has four goals in his last five classics.
Romeu explains his impact: “Patri sees passes that are very difficult to see, which I as a coach sometimes don’t see, and he does it surrounded by four defenders. He has the ability to pass, to move long, to let the whole team play… We will always miss Patri.” Also fundamental in the locker room, she is a support for many teammates. “Patri is incredible”, sums up one of them. “It is irreplaceable,” agrees Paredes, although he underlines the strength of the group: “But no one is essential.”
Without Patri or a natural replacement, Barça have turned in the last month to Laia Aleixandri, who recently arrived this summer and signed up for the club before even having a DNI, and Clara Serrajordi, a 17-year-old youth player who has already earned a place in the first team. “Laia does it very well. Even though it’s not her role, she knows this role from the national team and from Manchester City,” explains Graham. “Here he played more as a central defender than as a midfielder, but he adapted very well. He gives us a lot of dynamism in attack,” adds Romeu, “very happy” with his performance. Him personal I asked him to stay closer to the ball, to attack the opponent’s shoulders very well. Patri, with whom he has an excellent relationship, also gave him advice during his absence. “If the goalie is ahead, shoot,” he told her. Last weekend, against Deportivo de La Coruña, Aleixandri responded with a brace and won the MVP title.
Salma Paralluelo won’t even be there in the classic, due to a lateral ligament injury in her knee, although she will have Pajor and Kika Nazareth to reinforce the attack. The stage, the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, is not the usual one for the team, and it is where Barça has already lost to Madrid and Chelsea. The club expects around 30,000 people for this Saturday, a figure lower than the total capacity of the stadium (50,000). “It’s a question of marketing, because it didn’t reach the people we played against Real Madrid,” says Graham.
Barcelona will take to the field with the intention of regaining pride after the latest defeat. “The distance is something I leave to you, who are the ones to comment on it,” Romeu said of the difference between the two teams. And Laia Aleixandri will experience her first classic with a huge responsibility on an equally big stage: ensuring that Patri Guijarro’s absence goes unnoticed.
