{"id":15659,"date":"2025-07-23T03:07:44","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T07:07:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/07\/23\/spain-unites-all-of-barcelonas-midfield-legends-at-last\/"},"modified":"2025-07-23T03:07:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T07:07:44","slug":"spain-unites-all-of-barcelonas-midfield-legends-at-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/2025\/07\/23\/spain-unites-all-of-barcelonas-midfield-legends-at-last\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain Unites All of Barcelona&#8217;s Midfield Legends at Last!"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>Lausanne, Switzerland &#8211; Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmat\u00ed, and Patri Guijarro resemble a close-knit family unit in Barcelona. However, they&#8217;ve faced challenges that prevented them from teaming up for Spain as they do at the club level. The upcoming Euro 2025 could mark a turning point this summer, starting with a crucial match against Germany in Zurich, as the reigning world champions aim to secure a spot in the European Championship final for the first time ever.<\/p>\n<p>The success of Spain hinges significantly on their midfield trio. Putellas, Bonmat\u00ed, and Guijarro have amassed numerous trophies together at Bar\u00e7a, yet surprisingly, they&#8217;ve played together in just two out of Spain\u2019s last 21 matches across the World Cup, Euro, and Olympics.<\/p>\n<p>In the 2019 World Cup, none were regular starters, and in 2022, Putellas suffered an ACL injury right before the Euro tournament. Guijarro skipped the 2023 World Cup in protest against the Spanish Football Federation&#8217;s (RFEF) working conditions. Although she returned for last year\u2019s Olympics, she mentioned not feeling entirely comfortable as coach Montse Tom\u00e9 chose this trio as midfielders in two of Spain&#8217;s six tournament matches.<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8211; Bonmat\u00ed\u2019s journey from battling meningitis to becoming an MVP<br \/>&#8211; Berger represents Germany as a formidable opponent in the upcoming semi-final<br \/>&#8211; Euro 2025 Semi-finals: How to tactically defeat each team?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Despite their challenges, Bonmat\u00ed bounced back from a bout of viral meningitis just days before the tournament final. She returned to start in Spain&#8217;s last two matches after initially coming off the bench in the first two group stage games. Her standout performance in the quarterfinals secured her the MVP title, with Putellas and Guijarro also earning accolades in earlier matches against Portugal and Belgium.<\/p>\n<p>With Bonmat\u00ed not at full strength yet, Putellas distinguished herself by leading Spain through the group stage. After two years of injury struggles, she focused on making a remarkable comeback, feeling driven to perform well, especially after missing the final due to her ACL injury.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf anyone holds the burden, it\u2019s Putellas,\u201d said Jana Fern\u00e1ndez, a defender for Barcelona and Spain. \u201cWe\u2019re all incredibly motivated, but after what transpired in the last Euro, Alexia is even more determined to excel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer value to the team is immense, both on and off the pitch. When she plays at her best, it elevates the whole team,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure>\n<picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1521998_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1521998_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1521998_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1521998_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Aitana Bonmat\u00ed and Alexia Putellas have dominated the recent Ballon d&#8217;Or Awards. <cite>Alexander Hassenstein\/Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Putellas, at 31, contributed three goals and four assists throughout the group stage. Despite coming up short against Switzerland, she showcased her skill, and although some questions about her pre-injury form have emerged, her teammates have unwavering confidence in her talents.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe brings a unique spark to the field,\u201d said Lucia Garc\u00eda, a Monterrey and Spanish teammate. \u201cHer game vision is unmatched, and I am always amazed by her abilities. Playing alongside her enhances my own game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Putellas has created a tournament-high 18 chances, helping Spain secure 16 goals over four matches, while Bonmat\u00ed contributed five chances even after starting from the bench initially due to her illness.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline float-r inline-track\">\n<h2 class=\"img-title\">Watch futbol on ESPN+<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-lazyload=\"true\" src=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/photo\/2024\/1029\/r1407524_576x324_16-9.jpg\" class=\"round lazyload\"><\/p>\n<p>Ali Krieger, Christina Alexander, and Jeff Kassoff analyze key storylines and highlight moments from American women&#8217;s soccer. <b>Streaming on ESPN+ (US only)<\/b><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Tom\u00e9 initially expressed the need for more caution, but now the team is ready to assert themselves. Bonmat\u00ed acknowledges the strength of the entire squad when each player performs to the fullest.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am fully committed to giving my best for the team,\u201d she told ESPN. \u201cWhen we all put in our best efforts, I believe it\u2019s our time to reach an unstoppable level of play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Having influential players like Bonmat\u00ed and Putellas certainly helps. Bonmat\u00ed\u2019s creative back-heel assists against Switzerland highlighted her flair, breaking through the host nation\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n<p>Putellas and Bonmat\u00ed have shared four recent Ballon d&#8217;Or awards, each winning two. Guijarro, often less visible in the shadows of her teammates, is starting to regain her confidence after struggling upon her return to the national squad.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cReturning to the team has been challenging for her; it was a gradual process, but she\u2019s back to her best now,\u201d Tom\u00e9 said. \u201cIn her position, she\u2019s the best in the world. Although her role might not be fully recognized, her hard work enables those in front of her to play more freely.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside class=\"inline inline-photo full\">\n<figure>\n<picture><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1522000_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=570&amp;format=jpg, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1522000_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=1140&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(min-width: 376px)\"><source data-srcset=\"https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1522000_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=375, https:\/\/a.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2025%2F0722%2Fr1522000_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg&amp;w=750&amp;cquality=40&amp;format=jpg 2x\" media=\"(max-width: 375px)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\" lazyload lazyload\" data-image-container=\".inline-photo\" height=\"320\" width=\"570\"><\/source><\/source><\/picture><figcaption class=\"photoCaption\">Patri Guijarro scored for Spain during their first victory in the Euro knockout phase against Italy. <cite>Florencia Tan Jun -Uefa\/Uefa via Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Gijarro, a key player at 27, has been essential in Spain\u2019s attacking setup, completing 292 passes, the highest in the tournament, with a remarkable 190 in the opponent&#8217;s half.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlaying with Patri is both simple and complex,\u201d noted Vicki L\u00f3pez, a Barcelona and Spanish midfielder. \u201cHer vision often surprises, as she anticipates plays that others don\u2019t. Her passes are rarely straightforward; she always aims to advance the game. Every decision she makes is meaningful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe is undoubtedly among the world\u2019s best players and often overlooked. She is the backbone of the team, helping to ensure peak performances from everyone,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>As seen with her goal against Italy, Guijarro can deliver in the final third, but the midfield trio now faces a significant challenge. They are up against Italy, ranked 13th, which is the highest-ranked team they&#8217;ve faced so far, along with Belgium (20), Portugal (22), and Switzerland (23) being defeated as well. Germany, ranked third globally, has never lost to Spain in previous Euro encounters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have immense respect for Germany,\u201d Bonmat\u00ed stressed. \u201cHistorically, they\u2019ve won eight European Championships, which puts the pressure on them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA year ago, we faced them and left Paris without a medal after a disappointing defeat. For teams and players like us, that\u2019s a tough pill to swallow.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Fan Take:<\/strong> This match is significant not only for the players involved but also for the growth of women\u2019s soccer. A potential victory for Spain could mark a pivotal moment in the sport, highlighting the rising competitiveness of women&#8217;s teams globally and inspiring a new generation of players.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lausanne, Switzerland &#8211; Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmat\u00ed, and Patri Guijarro resemble a close-knit family unit in Barcelona. However, they&#8217;ve faced challenges that prevented them from teaming up for Spain as they do at the club level. The upcoming Euro 2025 could mark a turning point this summer, starting with a crucial match against Germany in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[1311,40,3749,1575,46,45,1907,3337],"class_list":{"0":"post-15659","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-barcelonas","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-legends","11":"tag-midfield","12":"tag-news","13":"tag-soccer","14":"tag-spain","15":"tag-unites"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportsdaily.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}