It is said that ‘new year, new life’, but in Spanish women’s football, 2025 has begun with a sense of continuity rather than transformation. Despite the arrival of a new cycle, the teams that dominated last season’s Liga F remain the main protagonists as the year gets underway.
This 2025 has not brought many surprises, at least at the start of the F League, which began on 5th January with a special day marked by postponed matches due to the DANA and the international commitments of the big clubs in the Champions League. But in the end, the three teams that have set the tone in recent years have once again shown their dominance, with resounding victories and a level of play that makes it clear that the fight for the title will once again be a matter of the few.
FC Barcelona continue to be the absolute leaders, not only in La Liga F, but also in the Spanish women’s football scene. In their return to the domestic championship, Pere Romeu’s side gave no room for surprise with a 6-0 win over Real Sociedad in a match which, rather than reflecting Barça’s dominance, showed the gap between the big clubs and the rest of the competition.
Ewa Pajor, who has had a spectacular season, opened the scoring with a hat-trick that confirmed her as the league’s top scorer. Her finishing ability and performance since her arrival reaffirms her as one of the most lethal players in the competition. The Pole is proving that she is not just a star, but a fundamental pillar for a team that, in attack, is practically unstoppable. However, beyond the numbers, one of the key points for Barcelona at the start of the year was the return of Salma Paralluelo. The striker, who had been out through injury, showed she is ready to get back to her best with a brace.
And to complete the rout, Aitana Bonmatí, who continues to establish herself as one of the league’s most influential players, scored a goal that summed up her class and ability to make a difference. The Catalan continues to be the central cog in the Barça machine. Her ability to dictate the pace of the game and her vision are fundamental to Barça’s continued dominance at both national and international level, which is why she is the best in the world.
While Barça continue their almost unstoppable run, Real Madrid also showed signs of strength when they took on Atlético de Madrid in the Madrid derby. With an outstanding performance from Linda Caicedo, who continues to gain prominence with every game, the white team achieved a vital victory in their race to stay close to the leader. The Colombian, who continues to astound with her goalscoring prowess, has been one of Real Madrid’s most promising players in recent weeks, and her development could be key to the team’s immediate future.
With an increasingly defined style of play, Real Madrid continue to take steps towards consolidating their position as one of the top teams in Liga F. Alongside them, players such as Athenea del Castillo, who returned after several months out with injury, also helped Real Madrid close the year with a win that strengthens their position. Athenea returned with a brace against Levante, which is great news for an essential player for Real Madrid.
For their part, Atlético de Madrid seem to be still in the shadow of the two giants of Liga F. The derby defeat moves them further away from second, at a crucial moment in the season. The points difference is remarkable, with FC Barcelona in the lead with 42 points, followed by Real Madrid on 34, while Atlético occupy third place with 25 points. Despite this, the ‘rojiblancas’ remain a dangerous team that will not give anything away.
In parallel to Liga F, one of the most anticipated events of the month is the Spanish Super Cup, which this year will be played between 21st and 26th January at Butarque Stadium, in Leganés. As has become customary in recent years, the choice of venue has been made at short notice, which creates a certain amount of uncertainty regarding the organisation of the event.
In the last edition, FC Barcelona swept aside Levante with a 7-0 victory, a scoreline that makes clear the distance that still exists between the blaugrana team and the other competitors. This year, the semi-finals will pit Barcelona against Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid against Real Sociedad, leaving the blaugranas as favourites. However, the other three teams will be looking to put up a fight and prevent another exhibition by the Culés.
But beyond the national tournaments, 2025 will also be a crucial year for the Spanish national team. Montse Tomé, the current national coach, has a fundamental challenge ahead of her: to define the squad for the European Championship in Switzerland, which will be played between 2nd and 27th July. ‘La Roja’, who arrive as champions of the 2023 World Cup and winners of the 2024 Nations League, will be one of the favourites for the tournament. However, before the European Championship, the national team will face a tough group stage in the Nations League, where they will face top-level teams such as England, Belgium and Portugal.
The qualifying matches, especially the one at Wembley against England in February, will serve to measure the true potential of ‘La Roja’ ahead of the European Championship. With players such as Aitana Bonmatí and Alexia Putellas, Spain will have a talented team, but also under significant pressure to continue their success.
2025 promises to be a year full of challenges for the national team, which will seek to further consolidate its position as one of the major powers in women’s football. The road to the European Championship will be long and demanding, but with a squad of talented and experienced players, ‘La Roja’ is one of the main favourites to lift the trophy.
All in all, 2025 promises to be a year of great challenges. While Liga F continues to be dominated by FC Barcelona, with Real Madrid close behind, Spanish women’s football continues to demonstrate its enormous potential. The Champions League and the European Championship are shaping up to be the main focuses of attention.
For this new year, it is essential that women’s football continues to receive the support it deserves, both financially and in terms of media. With more competitive teams, more skilled players and a level of play that continues to grow, 2025 is a key year to further consolidate the sport.
Main image: @FCBFemeni.
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