Ewa Pajor: Ostatni kawałek w niepowstrzymanym ataku FC Barcelona Femeni

FC Barcelona Femeni have long been revered for their fluid style of play, rock-solid midfield, and dominance on Europe’s grandest stages. With three UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) titles to their name and a consistently high-scoring attack in domestic competition, they are unquestionably a powerhouse. Yet, for all their success, there has been a notable…

FC Barcelona Femeni have long been revered for their fluid style of play, rock-solid midfield, and dominance on Europe’s grandest stages. With three UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) titles to their name and a consistently high-scoring attack in domestic competition, they are unquestionably a powerhouse. Yet, for all their success, there has been a notable gap in their lineup — the absence of a true number nine.

Despite their attacking prowess, Barcelona has often struggled to translate creativity into goals during critical moments. While forwards like Jenni Hermoso, Mariona Caldentey, and Claudia Pina have been brilliant in adapted roles, none of them have been natural strikers. For years, the team has relied on their elite midfield, hoping that stars like Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmatí, or Patri Guijarro could deliver in decisive moments.

However, even with these world-class midfielders, there remained a noticeable tactical void at the top of their attack. Barcelona’s style of play has never lacked flair, but their failure to find a clinical, natural finisher has cost them in key competitions, especially at the highest levels of European football. While other teams in Europe capitalized on having out-and-out strikers, Barcelona’s reliance on creativity over raw finishing power often came up short in big games.

This missing element in their attacking structure often became evident in matches where sheer control of possession wasn’t enough to secure victory. Barcelona dominated games, particularly against less challenging domestic opponents, but struggled against elite teams with compact defenses. Their inability to convert chances into goals, despite dominating in other areas, became a growing concern.
The striker problem: a long-standing issue

Barcelona’s troubles in front of goal during crucial matches have been well-documented. In the 2021 Supercopa defeat to Atletico Madrid and the 2022 UWCL final loss to Lyon, Barcelona’s over-reliance on midfield brilliance became apparent. Despite controlling much of the game, they simply couldn’t put away the chances they created.

Even the club’s all-time top scorer, Hermoso, was deployed in a false nine role. While Hermoso’s versatility and football intelligence were unmatched, the lack of a true number nine remained a tactical headache. Although highly skilled, Caldentey and Pina were also forced to take on striker duties despite being better suited to playmaking roles.

Barcelona’s search for a natural striker seemed promising when they signed Asisat Oshoala in 2019. The Nigerian international brought speed and goals, but injuries and inconsistent form prevented her from becoming the long-term solution they had hoped for. The introduction of Geyse Ferreira in the 2022/23 season looked like another attempt to solve the puzzle, but it was a short-lived experiment that didn’t work out.
Ewa Pajor: a game changer for Barcelona