Barça ended their “fantastic week”, as Jonatan Giráldez described it. After saying goodbye to the Camp Nou with qualification for their fourth Champions League final, the Blaugrana team mathematically certified the league title after beating Sporting de Huelva (3-0). A trophy that he presented to his captain, Alexia Putellas, who reappeared in the Johan Cruyff 299 after her knee injury.

With three games to go until the end of the season, the Blaugrana team sealed their eighth league title and kept open their chances of repeating last year’s perfect league, when they won all 30 games played. A new trophy that also equals the record for consecutive leagues (4) held by FC Barcelona Barcelona itself when it was crowned champion in the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons, just before the section became professional.

To round off the Blaugrana party, the subsidiary was also proclaimed champion of the First Federation, the second women’s division, after beating Juan Grande (0-2) and with two games to go until the end of the season. One more example of the strong commitment that the Catalan entity has been making for years in women’s football. The champions received a nice tribute at the Johan Cruyff just minutes before the start of the first team match.

Soccer did not shine. With an eleven full of substitutes and the Eindhoven final on the horizon, Jonatan Giráldez sat his starters on the bench and, despite not dazzling with his football, they fulfilled their mission. At minute 39, Laia Codina put the Blaugrana team ahead with a volley that he celebrated with the rage of who knows that he has just scored a goal worth a League. He went to the stands of a Johan Cruyff packed to the brim and raising his arms to heaven spurred on the fans, who roared like on big days.

But the best was yet to come. Minute 59, the stands start the count: 1, 2, 3… 11! And Alexia Putellas jumps to warm up. Total delirium in the Johan who chants the name of his longed-for captain. With all eyes on the band came the second goal from Jana Fernàndez, who dedicated it to who else? To putellas.

The sky was covered with black clouds, thunder resounded in the distance, breaking through the lightning that appeared here and there. But nobody was worried about finishing the day soaked. They were about to live a unique moment, the return of Alexia Putellas 299 days after her cruciate ligament tear. The captain ran to the bench, greeted one by one all her teammates and her staff and addressed the band. In the 74th minute, Johan stood up to see how his queen stepped onto the pitch again. He received the bracelet from Claudia Pina and, almost ten months later, he felt like a footballer again.

The rest of the game was a party. Oshoala rounded off the victory with the third and with the stands making a wave, the storm unloading hard on Johan and to the cry of ‘champions’ came the final whistle and with it the eighth league title for FC Barcelona. Next stop: Eindhoven.