#Sporting Huelva

[realmadridnews]

Sporting Huelva Femenino - Real Madrid Femenino 1:4

Real Madrid Femenino ends the season on the 2nd place.

scorers: 0:1, Carmona 33'

0:2, Bruun 42'

0:3, Bruun 53'

0:4, Feller 75'

1:4, Hmirova 82'

Sporting Huelva Femenino: Ashurst; Mario Ruiz, Carol, Balleste, Konat, Ojeda; Bokiri (57' Hmirova), De Filippo (58' Barbara Lopez), Castello, Isina; Kojima (46' Hagman)

Real Madrid Femenino: Chavas; Raso, Galvez, Kathellen (60' Valle), Carmona (46' Svava); Abelleira, Zornoza (60' Olofsson), Feller, Olaya Rodriguez (46' Athenea), Caicedo; Bruun

[retrofutbolmgc]

Poli Rincón • RC Recreativo de Huelva (1977/78)

[bruhnze]

PLAYING FOR KEEPS

CHAPTER 3 – Keep your friends close, but your competitors closer

Summary: Ona Batlle has had a crush on Lucy Bronze for a little while now… how will it go when she joins Barça? A 10 chapter series.

Warnings: Slow burn, angst, fluff, smut. All the things, but I give this as a complete warning for the whole series. Not every chapter involves all the warnings :).

masterlist

September 16, 2023: vs. Madrid CFF (2-0, away) October 1, 2023: vs. Sporting de Huelva (2-1, away)

Spain – September 15th 2023

"Room arrangements?" Alexia snapped, clearly annoyed by the interruption in her conversation with Irene.

"Yeah, who’s sharing rooms?" Patri asked the first captain. "We texted about it. You were supposed to discuss it with Jonatan and share the list today. Did you?"

"Oh, did I forget to send the text? We decided to sort by last names," Alexia replied, glancing back at Irene. "Sorry, Irene, one second." She quickly pulled out her phone and sent the finalized room assignments to the team group chat. ‘’Thanks Patri.’’

<<FCBF First Team - Season 23/24>>

..

"What’s this sorted by?" Esmee asked Ingrid, looking a bit perplexed as she scanned the list on her phone while sitting with Mapi, Aitana, and Ingrid in a booth on the bus. "I can’t find my name."

Mapi sighed dramatically. "They sorted it by last names. Ingrid, I told you we needed to get married," she whined.

Ingrid chuckled. "I’m pretty sure couples with last names next to each other will be swapped anyway."

"Ayy Mapi," Patri said as she approached the group, "how would you feel about sharing a room with Salma instead of me?"

Ingrid shook her head with a smile, glancing at the list. "And you and Pina will room together?"

Mapi laughed, "Pfft, I won’t trade with anyone but Jana. I might need to make a quick visit to her seat."

"Nuh-uh, no trades allowed," Aitana chuckled. "And you and Pina will definitely not be rooming together."

"What’s wrong, Esmee?" Ingrid asked, noticing the Dutch midfielder still anxiously scrolling through her phone. When Esmee remained quiet, Ingrid checked the list again, looking for Brugts' name at the top. She realized Esmee had been left out.

"Alexia!" Ingrid shouted, frustrated. "You forgot Esmee on the list." When she saw Alexia was sitting too far and was in conversation she turned to Mapi. "Babe, you need to fix this."

"Me?" Mapi replied, bewildered. "What can I do about it?" she asked defensively, raising her hands.

Aitana laughed. "I think Brugts should be with Bonmatí, right? Both ‘B’?"

Ingrid gave Mapi a stern look.

Maria scratched her head. "I’ll go to Ale and tell her Tana and Esmee will room together, and I’ll remind her she’s silly for forgetting Esmee," Mapi offered carefully to her girlfriend.

Ingrid smiled at Mapi. "Thank you, baby. You’re so sweet." She wrapped an arm around Esmee. "No worries, Maria will fix it."

Esmee smiled as she leaned into Ingrid, chuckling as Mapi scrunched her face, still a bit jealous that Ingrid had insisted on sitting next to Esmee, and opposite to her.

"Whipped," Patri whispered to Mapi as they headed back towards Alexia´s seat.

..

A few moments later, an updated list was sent to the group chat.

<<FCBF First Team - Season 23/24>>

@Alexia Putellas: Sorry, guys, forgot our star player! Everyone moves back one place. These will be our roommates for the entire season. If you can't share a room with the person you’re assigned to professionally, please come to me. Except for those exceptions, this is final.

@Jonatan Giráldez: Just to be 100% clear, to make sure you all understand what Alexia meant by that message: It is not our intention that couples share a room. We see this as a breach of professionalism. If there’s a couple we don’t know about, please report it to us so we can arrange different rooming. We support and accept relationships within FC Barcelona, they just can´t share rooms. Thank you.

Ona had quietly observed the whole situation unfold and hadn’t interrupted when Mapi pressured Alexia into pairing Esmee with Aitana, even though it should’ve been Batlle, Bonmatí, Brugts, and Bronze. She figured since she already roomed with Aitana for Spain, she could manage with Lucy here. Maybe it would even be a good chance for them to become better friends. Honestly she already felt a little excitement pumping through her veins at the thought of being alone for Lucy for more moments.

Ona glanced at Lucy. She was deep in conversation with Mariona. Lucy was friendly with everyone, so she probably hadn’t even thought about who she’d be rooming with.

..

As the bus stopped at a gas station, everyone got out for a quick stretch or bathroom break.

Lucy stood behind Ona, waiting in line to use the restroom.

"Who’s your roommate?" Ona asked, trying to make small talk. She couldn´t help but just wanting to talk with Lucy.

"Uh," Lucy laughed a little awkwardly, "I don’t know. Where can we check?"

"It’s in the group chat," Ona replied, then realized she’d been careless. She already knew they were rooming together. "Oh, I see there’s a new list," she quickly added, pretending to check her phone just now.

Lucy had also pulled out her phone. They looked up at each other simultaneously, Lucy grinning widely while Ona feigned surprise.

"Hey, we’re sharing!"

"Looks like it," Ona chuckled. "Who did you room with last year?"

"Mariona," Lucy laughed, nudging her friend, who was standing nearby, absorbed in her phone.

"What?" Mariona asked, looking up, confused.

"Oh," Lucy chuckled, "just saying it’s probably for the best they made a new room arrangement. We barely slept because you’re too funny."

"Have the rooms been assigned?" Mariona asked, glancing between Ona and Lucy.

Ona laughed. "What are you doing on your phone then? Didn’t you see the group chat messages?"

"Hmm," Mariona muttered as she opened WhatsApp. "Ah, let me see." After a few seconds she palmed her forehead. "Cata," she groaned, pushing Lucy playfully. "Well, you might’ve upgraded to more sleep, but I definitely haven’t."

"Well, I’ve lost my Spanish teacher," Lucy pouted, draping an arm around Mariona, "and no more lullabies."

"What?" Ona chuckled, confused.

Mariona shook her head, laughing. "Ay, don’t spill our secrets Lucy. That was something special between us," she said, bursting into laughter.

Whatever the inside joke was, it must have been hilarious, as the two of them doubled over with laughter, wiping tears from their eyes.

The line moved forward, and it was Ona’s turn, so she guessed she wouldn’t be getting an explanation anytime soon.

..

The team bus pulled into the driveway of the hotel, the low hum of the engine fading as it came to a stop. The players were a mix of weary from the journey and buzzing with energy, eager to stretch their legs and settle into their rooms. The hotel was sleek and modern, its glass shiny front facade reflecting the late afternoon sun.

Alexia was the first to stand, grabbing her bag from the overhead compartment. She glanced back at the team, "Remember, room assignments are final. If there's an issue, come see me, but let's try to get things over with smoothly. I´ll call everyone up and hand out the keycards once we´re inside, please gather in the lobby quietly. Please, let´s show that we are a good behaved team."

The players began filing off the bus, exchanging light chatter. Ona was one of the first out, taking in the sight of the hotel. She felt Lucy come up beside her, still laughing at something Mariona had said moments ago.

"Nice place," Lucy commented, slinging her bag over her shoulder.

Ona nodded, "Yeah, looks good." She looked around for the entrance, spotting a hotel staff member ready to guide them in.

As they walked in, Mariona caught up with them, a smile still on her face. "I hope the beds are better than the last hotel, though. My back still hasn’t forgiven me."

"This time you'll have Cata to complain to," Lucy teased, nudging Mariona with her elbow.

Mariona rolled her eyes dramatically, "If she snores, you bet I'm coming to your room."

The lobby was spacious and elegant, with polished marble floors and minimalist decor. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a glow over the space. The receptionist smiled warmly as the team approached the front desk, where a manager stood ready to greet them.

"Welcome, team FC Barcelona, it is an honor to host you guys" the manager said with a smile that was almost leaning towards creepy because of the way he forced it, "We have everything prepared for your stay. If you could just confirm your room assignments, we'll have your keys ready in no time."

Alexia took charge, stepping forward with a clipboard in hand. She read out the pairings, double-checking against the list she had sent earlier.

"Aitana and Esmee," she began, and the two nodded in acknowledgment, moving to the side to wait for their keys.

"Ona and Lucy," she continued, glancing up. Watching as the pair caught each others eyes and smiled at each other.

..

With everyone eventually checked in, the team slowly made their way to the elevators. As they piled in, the air was filled with laughter and the sound of luggage wheels rolling across the floor.

Once in the elevator, Ona found herself next to Lucy. Maybe it was not really a coincidence as she took the fact they were roommates now as a opportunity to stick to the other defender, at least for this moment. "So…  you ready to be roomies this season?" Ona asked with a smile.

Lucy shrugged and laughed playfully, "As long as you don't mind my midnight snacking."

Ona chuckled, "Allright, just don't wake me up, and we're good."

The elevator dinged, and the doors opened to reveal a long, carpeted hallway. The couple of team members that had shared the elevator began heading to their respective rooms, eager to finally drop their bags and relax for a moment before they had a meeting later and the team dinner.

As Ona slid her keycard into the door and pushed it open. The room was spacious, with two neatly made beds, a large window offering a view of some greenery the hotel bordered, and a modern bathroom off to the side.

Lucy dropped her bag on one of the beds and flopped down beside it, "Home sweet home for the next days I guess."

Ona smiled. "Yup." She placed her bag down on the ground and sat on the edge of the other bed, already feeling comfortable in the new environment. She took her phone out of her pocket as she felt it buzzing.

<<FCBF First Team - Season 23/24>>

@Cata Coll: jajajjaj does everyone have glass bathrooms?

Ona looked up at the bathroom, only now realizing the walls were indeed, see-through.

<<FCBF First Team - Season 23/24>>

@Marta Torrejón: we shower together often, what’s the difference?

@Cata Coll: yeah, but the toilet is in there too…

@Vicky López: team buildingggg 🤪🤪

@Caroline Graham Hansen: you guys realize we are able to exit the rooms right? just communicate with your roommate.

@Salma Paralluelo:

@Vicky López: jjjajajajajjaj @salma quick with ittt

Ona chuckled at the messages, catching Lucy's attention. Lucy, who had been staring up at the ceiling, turned her head. “What’s so funny?”

“Check out the group chat,” Ona said, still laughing, pointing behind her. “Turns out everyone’s bathroom has a glass wall.”

Lucy raised an eyebrow, chuckling. “A glass wall? Wow, I guess we’ll be getting to know each other very well.” She turned to sit up towards Ona.

Ona held up her phone so Lucy could see the messages. Lucy started laughing too. “Who thought it was a good idea to put a glass bathroom in a room meant for at least two people anyways?"

Ona shook her head with a smile. "Well at least for us the only weird part is the toilet. We’re used to sharing showers at the club anyway. But for other groups of people it would be very weird, yeah."

Lucy chuckled, ‘’Haha, imagine two guys from some corporate business sharing this room.’’

Ona shook her head and chuckled, ‘’yeah, what a strange hotel, really weird.’’

"Maybe we can just leave the room if the other needs to use it," Lucy suggested, still chuckling. "or we could always find another bathroom."

"Yeah, we'll figure it out," Ona agreed, kicking off her shoes before also flopping back onto her bed.

<<FCBF First Team - Season 23/24>>

@Alexia Putellas: Sí, we’ll just have to manage. Follow @Caroline’s advice: talk to your roommate about giving each other some privacy. And @Vicky, you're right, it’s definitely teambuilding! Setting boundaries can actually help us grow stronger together. 😊

@Salma Paralluelo:

@Alexia Putellas: Sí, thumbs up 😊

..

The team’s meeting went as expected. Jonatan broke down the tactics for tomorrow’s match, reviewing their opponents’ weaknesses and how Barcelona could exploit them. There was a seriousness in the room, but a relaxed confidence as well, thanks to the string of victories they held against this opponent.

At the end of the meeting they all knew their own roles, the roles of their teammates, the defensive structures and attacking movements. Everyone left the meeting feeling prepared and focused but ready for a meal with some more easy conversations.

The team gathered in the hotel dining room. Ona, Salma, Vicky, Bruna, Jana, Patri, and Pina found a long table near the windows and claimed it. The vibe was light and playful, everyone still buzzing from the earlier meeting. As Ona settled into her chair, chatting with Vicky about her excitement for the match, Lucy appeared with a tray, scanning the room for a seat.

"Mind if I join you guys?" Lucy asked, her eyes landing briefly on Ona, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Sure, Lucy," Patri waved her over with a chuckle. "There’s space right here."

Lucy sat across from Ona, placing her tray down. Almost instantly, Jana leaned slightly over the table. “Wouldn’t you rather sit next to Ona?” she teased, her eyes glinting mischievously. “You two seem pretty close these days.”

Ona felt her cheeks flush, and she tried to hide it by taking a sip of water. Lucy, however, didn’t miss a beat. She chuckled and raised an eyebrow at Jana. "Is that your subtle way of asking me to move, Jana? You can just say if you don’t want me next to you."

Laughter rippled across the table.

"Hey, I’m just asking," Jana said, smirking. "Gotta make sure everyone’s... comfortable."

"Very considerate of you," Lucy replied dryly, glancing at Ona, who still hadn't quite found her voice but was smiling, cheeks flushed pink.

Ona wished she could disappear through the floor. Why would Jana say something like that? It wasn’t as if she and Lucy were attached at the hip. In fact, Ona had made a conscious effort not to follow Lucy around like some starstruck puppy. She was careful—so careful—to keep her distance, to maintain that delicate balance of being close but not too close. They were apart often, painfully often, if she was honest.

If only Jana knew how much effort I put into this, Ona thought, mentally wincing. If she knew, she’d never make a joke like that.

The rest of the table laughed at Jana’s comment, but Ona could barely join in. Lucy though, she didn’t seem phased at all, her expression as light as ever, which made Ona feel both relieved and frustrated. It was a emphasis that Lucy could never look at it the way she did.

The conversation shifted back to football and the plans for tomorrow’s match. With just the right proportions of banter and seriousness. Everyone seemed relaxed, the different tables buzzing with jokes.

As they finished their meals, Jonatan reminded them to get some rest. “Early night, everyone. We have a big day tomorrow. I suggests everyone goes to their room after deserts and we stay off the hallways, everyone can relax in their rooms and preferable go to bed early.”

The team groaned good-naturedly but they kept their opinions about it silent.

After the food the players obediently made their way back to their rooms one by one. Ona and Lucy walked together, a comfortable silence between them as they navigated the quiet hotel hallways.

Once in their room, Lucy stretched, pulling off her sweater before throwing it onto her bed. “That dinner was fun,” she said casually, glancing at Ona. "Jana’s a funny girl."

Ona chuckled, still feeling the warmth in her cheeks from earlier. “Yeah, she’s just stirring, I don’t know.” She paused, sitting on the edge of her bed, fiddling with her bracelet. “Thanks for sitting with us.”

Lucy sat down on her own bed, leaning back on her arms. “Huh? I came to join you guys.” She hesitated for a moment, chuckling quietly. “Thanks for letting me sit with your friends.”

Ona’s heart skipped a beat at the casual way Lucy talked. ‘’Ofcourse, you can always join us, whenever you like.’’

‘’Good.’’ Lucy smiled, ‘’but from everyone I like to spend time the most with you I think.’’

Ona stared at Lucy. Her mind running a thousand thoughts at the same time. But she didn’t want to read into it. “I like spending time with you too,” she admitted, her voice quiet and her cheeks heating up.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, the dim glow of the bedside lamps casting soft shadows on the walls. Ona’s eyelids were starting to feel heavy, the weight of the day catching up to her.

Lucy noticed and chuckled softly. “We should get some sleep, Ona. Big game tomorrow.”

Ona nodded, stifling a yawn. ‘’Mhm, you’re right.’’ She agreed with Lucy, even though the way her name rolled off Lucy lips made her sleepiness disappear.

They gave eachother some time to use the bathroom and got dressed in their pajama’s or rather just undressing, in Lucy’s case. Apparently Lucy slept in her underwear, Ona concluded as she saw Lucy crawling under the covers.

She climbed into her own bed, pulling the blankets up around her. As she settled in, she heard Lucy’s quiet voice from across the room. “Goodnight, Ona.”

“Goodnight, Lucy,” Ona mumbled back.

..

16th September 2023

They had won the game 2-0, a brilliant start to the Liga F season. But Ona still couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned, her mind racing with thoughts of the match. Glancing over, she noticed Lucy scribbling something down in a notebook.

“Hey, Luce,” Ona whispered softly, trying not to disturb the quiet.

“Hm?” Lucy responded, not looking up from her notes.

“Is it okay if I call my mom really quick?”

“Of course,” Lucy replied, turning toward her with a warm smile. “Are you okay? Do you want me to step out for a bit?”

“No, no, I’m fine,” Ona reassured her, shaking her head. “I just want to talk to her for a second. We’ll speak in Catalan anyways.”

Lucy grinned. “Are you annoyed that you’re finally back in Spain and stuck rooming with someone who speaks English?”

Ona chuckled. “Actually, I like keeping up with my English. With the others, I can speak Catalan or Spanish.”

“Well, I can’t speak Catalan yet,” Lucy teased, showing her notebook with a proud smile, “but my Spanish is getting better. See? I’ve been practicing.”

Ona smiled. “If you ever need tips or have any questions, you can always ask.”

“Gracias,” Lucy replied in Spanish. “You Spanish people are so kind.” She waved her notebook playfully. “Now go call your mom, I’ll be quiet.”

Ona’s mom answered on the third ring, her voice lighting up at the sound of her daughter. They chatted about the game, her mom mentioning how excited she was to be able to go to the next match so they could see each other. But mostly so they could see their little girl play in real life again, instead of from behind a screen. As the conversation went on, Ona’s voice began to tremble. She tried to keep her composure as she was all to aware of the fact she was not alone. Maybe if it had been any other person she hadn´t minded a few tears, but with Lucy it was no option. Crying infront of your crush was like one of the most pathetic things that Ona could imagine.

“I really want to hug you, Mom. I miss you,” Ona admitted, trying to keep her emotions in check.

“Oh, honey, are you feeling down?” her mom asked gently.

“No,” Ona sniffed, ��I’m really happy actually, just a bit overwhelmed.”

“Can you find a teammate to hug, then? Maybe a hug with someone else will help you a little bit too,” her mom suggested. “Or maybe just talk to someone?”

“Yeah, but I don’t know my roommate that well yet, not on that level” Ona confessed. “That’s why I called you, mom, I just needed to talk.”

They chatted a bit longer until Ona felt more at ease. Her mom promised her a big hug next time they saw eachother, sending plenty of love through the phone before they said goodnight.

When Ona finally hung up, she realized the call had lasted over half an hour. She turned to see if Lucy was still awake, noticing her light was still on.

Lucy smiled at her. “Feeling a little better?”

“I didn’t mean to keep you awake…” Ona began, trying to sound composed, though her runny nose likely gave her away.

Lucy’s expression softened, “Just so you know, if you ever need to talk about anything, I’m here.”

Ona nodded, her voice shaky. “T-thanks.”

“And if you need a hug, just ask,” Lucy added, turning back to her notebook. “I’m here.”

Ona hesitated before asking, “Did you… did you understand my conversation?”

Lucy looked back, smiling curiously. “Did you talk to your mom about hugging me?”

Ona blushed, shaking her head. “No, I just said I missed my mom’s hugs,” she laughed, embarrassed.

“Ahh,” Lucy chuckled.

“Then she suggested I ask my roommate for a hug,” Ona admitted, her face still flushed. “But I said I didn’t know her that well yet.”

Lucy set her notebook aside and sat up, her expression softening further. “Oh, I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. I hope you know I’m here for you, whether you need a hug or just someone to listen.”

Ona nodded, sitting on the edge of her bed. “I’d like a hug. I’m not sad or anything, just… a bit overwhelmed by everything I guess.”

Lucy smiled gently, shifting in her bed. “All right, let’s see if I can get these legs to work.”

“No, wait!” Ona suddenly remembered Lucy had been icing her legs for hours. “No, don’t get up. You need to recover, we have to travel tomorrow. I don’t want to mess with your recovery.”

Lucy tilted her head slightly, “You come here then. Otherwise, I’ll stand up, it’s no big deal. It’s the same as if I needed to go to the bathroom.”

Ona blushed, glancing at Lucy in her bed. Lucy was wearing matching white Calvin Klein underwear, a sports bra and briefs. Her abs, usually defined, were softened by the way she was half sitting, her knee wrapped in a brace.

“Come on,” Lucy coaxed softly, now lying back down. “Don’t be shy. I promise I’m nice.”

“Yeah, I know you’re nice,” Ona muttered as she stood up, trying to figure out how to approach this.

Dressed in her pajama shorts and T-shirt, Ona climbed onto Lucy’s bed, unsure if she should lie directly on top of her. But Lucy’s open arms were inviting, and soon, Ona found herself half lying on top of Lucy, who closed her arm around the smaller woman.

“Are you comfortable?” Ona asked. “Is your knee okay?”

“Mhmm,” Lucy smiled, bringing her hand to Ona’s back and gently rubbing soothing circles. “You?”

“Why are you so nice?” Ona murmured against Lucy’s upper chest.

“Why?” Lucy paused, her hand stilling for a moment. “Because we’re teammates and roommates, and I like to think we’re friends. Or maybe becoming friends? Honestly, I thought we we’re already friends.”

Ona remained silent.

“Like with the walking and stuff,  driving together to training,” Lucy continued, resuming her soothing motions. “But before this we already knew each other a little, right? From back in England, the worldcup, and now we are neighbors... and I mean our dogs are friends”

“Yeah,” Ona said softly, “I want to be friends with you too. I was just a little afraid you’d see me as a rival since we both play right back. But I promise, they signed me to play left back, and I’m happy with that because I like it there too.”

Lucy chuckled, “Were you worried about that?” She playfully patted Ona’s head. “Don’t worry.’’ She chuckled. ‘’I think you’ll get the spot eventually, I mean you’re still young. You’ll be better than me one day, but for now, I’m still better,” she teased.

Ona chuckled, though she felt a little embarrassed. “Sorry,” she muttered, burying her face further against Lucy.

“I thought you were nice when I met you at Stani’s wedding, if I’m honest from that day on I have seen you as a friend of mine” Lucy said, resuming the gentle motions on Ona’s back. “Stani likes you a lot, by the way. She’s always going on about how great it is that we’re playing together now.”

Ona’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She hoped Staniforth hadn’t spilled anything about her crush on Lucy. “Oh, yeah, we’re good friends,” she said, not sure what else to say.

“Did you know I grew up with Stani?” Lucy smiled at the memory. “She was my neighbor. We used to play football together every day. And do you remember Jordan? She was also at the wedding, remember?’’

Ona hummed.

‘’Well, she was part of our little group too. Those were such good times.” Lucy said, smiling as she looked up at the ceiling, remembering the early days of her football career.

Ona smiled, and after a moment of silence, she softly spoke, “I like listening to you talk.” She confessed.

Lucy chuckled, still tracing slow circles on Ona’s back. “Does it help calm you down?”

Ona nodded slightly against Lucy’s chest. “Yeah, it does.”

“Well,” Lucy continued with a warm smile, “I can keep talking if you want. What should I tell you about next?”

Ona thought for a moment.

“Would you tell me about your whole career? Like the clubs you played for, their playing styles, and how you adapted?” She asked eventually.

Lucy chuckled, “Ah, I see what this is,” she teased, poking Ona gently. “You’re trying to trick me into revealing my secrets.”

Ona giggled as Lucy tickled her. “Sorry, sorry!” she cried, laughing until Lucy stopped. “Okay, something else then.”

“No, no,” Lucy pulled her closer, her arms wrapping around Ona like a protective shield. “I don’t keep any football secrets from my teammates.” Her fingers gently threaded through Ona’s hair, her voice softening. “I just want you to feel comfortable here.” Lucy’s chest rose and fell beneath Ona’s cheek, the steady rhythm almost lulling her to a calm. “If I’m being honest,” Lucy sighed, “maybe I secretly wished I had someone to comfort me when I was new. So now I’m here for you.” She paused, her lips quirking into a half-smile. “Mario was great - super kind, really - but we we’re just... not really huggers like this.”

Ona hummed against Lucy’s chest, her thoughts racing in every direction, both a thousand and none. How was she even processing this? She was here, lying against Lucy’s body, getting comforted by someone she admired so deeply. Friends. That’s what they were, right? Lucy had made that clear. Friends was good. Friends were safe.

But still, her mind wouldn’t stop racing. She clung tighter to Lucy, as if holding on would help quiet the whirlwind in her mind. No, she said to herself, Lucy thought relationships were distractions, that being single was freedom. So friends it was. It had to be. And it wasn’t like Ona could confess her feelings anyway. That would be absurd. Lucy was… out of her league.

masterlist

[thesunisatangerine]

against all odds (to wait for you is all i can do) – part three

alexia putellas x photojournalist!reader

warnings: explicit sexual content

(a/n in the tags) [parts: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve]

word count: 3.4k

You woke again nearing midday and, as expected, Ale was nowhere to be found. If it weren’t for the still sensitive marks that she left on your neck and the soreness between your thighs, you would’ve thought it was all a pleasant dream. Something on your nightstand caught your eye as you stretched and when you picked it up, all the remaining doubt shattered. 

On the piece of paper was a phone number with a little note that said ‘text me?’ and you couldn’t help the grin that made its way to your lips at the drawn smiley face at the end of it. You picked your phone up, added her to your contacts and sent her a hello-it’s-me text, noted the notification of an email from Derek, and then you got out of bed to get ready for the day.

When you returned to the bedroom from your shower, a message from Ale was waiting for you. 

‘Hey, good morning! Listen, as much as I’d love to… have fun with you again, I can’t see you the next few days.’

You laughed at the varying degrees of sad emojis that superseded her text. Then you messaged her back. 

‘That’s fine. Just text me when you’re free. And you already know where I am so…’

You abandoned your phone after that in favor of your laptop as you remembered Derek’s email. Upon opening your mail, you found it immediately.

‘Good news. Robert sealed a deal with a client and they want you to follow FC Barcelona in their Liga F campaign this season. We got 5 match passes so far–Robert believes that the client might be inclined to commission for more photos depending on how the club progresses throughout the season.

Find the passes in the attachment as well as the in-depth commission details but in short, apart from the customary team photos, they want photos of the following players prioritised in order: Alexia Putellas, Maria ‘Mapi’ Leon, and Caroline Graham Hansen. I’ll leave the research to you.

On an informal note, the window to decline is still open. As previously discussed, you don’t have to do this. Let me know what you decide as soon as possible.’

You checked the attached files and sure enough, you found the passes for Barcelona’s matches against the following clubs: Real Madrid, Roma, Alhama, Atletico Madrid, and Sporting Huelva. You noted the date for the one against Real Madrid–it was in a couple of days, the same one Ale suggested and a thrill of excitement went down your spine at the thought of possibly seeing her again. Maybe you should message her to let her know that you were going. 

You sent a confirmation to Derek before you created a new tab to begin your research. ‘Alexia Putellas’, you typed and hit enter. When the results came back, you stilled. 

You blinked. 

Then you blinked again.

Of all the places you’d expect to find Ale’s face, a search result about a professional football player was the last thing you could think of. But memories flashed unbidden through your mind: the exclusive night club, Ale’s vague answer about her job, the way her eyes shone whenever you mentioned sports or football, her reflexes, her physique, Ale… Alexia–it all made sense now. 

Groaning, you put your face in your hands as your cheeks and ears burnt from the embarrassment that flooded your veins. Oh, how dense could you get! She must’d thought you ignorant for not knowing who she was. Foolish! 

But then again… if she didn’t get a kick out of you not knowing, why did she allow the second time to happen? And why promise a third? The thought calmed you down enough to decide not to text Ale–no, Alexia–about this like you’d originally planned especially since you were most likely going to see her at the game anyway.

After another moment to regain your composure for the time being, you proceeded with your research. You clicked on an article, and an article lead to another, which carried you over to a video, and so on. By the end of it, evening had settled and you only managed to discover little. But from what you found out, there was no question to Alexia Putellas’ nascent legacy, both on and off the pitch–an undisputed, modern trailblazer for current and new generations of female athletes. You were gutted to know about her ACL injury though–a quick deviated search made it known to you how serious of an injury it was, especially for an athletic career–and you wondered when she would be able to play again or if she would be playing in the match against Real Madrid. After all, she did say she was going to be there.

You wrapped up your research about Alexia then and you finally moved on to Mapi Leon, then Caroline Graham Hansen. Afterwards, you briefed yourself on the rest of Barcelona Femeni’s 1st Division players as well as the rules of football to come up with a strategy to tackle this task.

A mixture of anxiety and excitement rushed through you as you settled in for the night at the thought of seeing Alexia again now that you know about her identity. You didn’t know what you had gotten yourself into the moment you let her take you to the dance floor but the pull was there from the very beginning. And you decided you were going to see this through to the end.

No. This wasn’t going to change anything at all.

–––

There it was: Estadi Johan Cruyff, home to Barcelona Femeni, stood proud in its blue and red glory.

There was still about an hour and a half left before kickoff but already, people had gathered and started to enter the stadium, you being one of them. Security scanned your press pass as you entered and you were told to head through a different corridor which lead you out to the pitch. Once inside, it was no surprise that the stadium’s interior was no less grand than the outside, the well-tended grass was just a taste to the quality that this place had to offer. 

Greeting the other photographers who’d settled in earlier as you walked, you searched for a spot and found it by the space adjacent to the corner flag farthest from the tunnel entrance. There, you placed your duffel bag and your portable stool as you worked to set up your equipment: you double-checked the batteries, attached the right lens to your camera, unwounded your monopod and connected it to your camera. 

By the time you looked up, there was already a significant crowd awaiting the players for their warm-ups. You took this chance to take a few shots of the still half-filled stadium, tweaking your settings as you did so and you waited for the players to come out.

About an hour before kickoff, you spied movements inside the tunnel and immediately, your eye was to your viewfinder.

Players from both teams emerged from the tunnel and names popped in your head as you scanned the faces from Barcelona, taking shots of them as they stepped foot on the grass and took off in a jog. There was no sign of Alexia though but you spotted two of your marks on the pitch so you wasted no time to frame them in your camera.

A moment later though, you heard a sudden cheer from the crowd followed by a collective flutter of camera shutters. You lifted your eye from the viewfinder, turned your head to the side and saw that your fellow photographers had their cameras focused to the direction of the tunnel entrance. Your heart quickened. Could it be? And sure enough as you looked to the sidelines, you could make out Alexia’s blonde hair and her unmistakable silhouette. Through your camera’s lens you were able to see her better. 

Alexia had on a black leather jacket paired with a top that revealed a strip of skin before the cut of her jeans, finishing her look off with a pair sneakers on and loose blonde hair. She was conversing with her coach, bumping fists and patting the backs of players from both teams who went over to greet her. Then she turned to the stands, waved at their supporters, and she moved close enough for pictures and autographs. She gave one last wave to the fans, shouted an encouraging word to her teammates with a fist in the air, before she headed back into the tunnel. While all of this was happening, you’d framed her through your lens yourself, taking the photos you needed, cheeks warm despite the cooling afternoon air. 

Then all the Barcelona players jogged over to the sidelines and huddled, side to side, arm in arm. You took a shot. Not long after that, all of them left the pitch. 

The game was about to start. 

Alexia wasn’t lying when she said the stadium would get crowded: the stands were filled with blues and reds, flags were flown and waved about, chanted anthems resounded loud and proud in the air–the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. 

You’d moved by the sideline close to the tunnel entrance for the beginning of the match along with your fellow photographers so you could capture Barcelona’s starting eleven. When the players came out, they were welcomed by singing and cheers from the crowd. And as they stood there, you took photos of the entire team first before you moved on to focus on Mapi and Caroline. 

When the whistle blew and the match began, you were back to your original spot, looking to the stands above the tunnel entrance as you tried to pick Alexia out from the sea of faces through your camera. You managed to a few minutes later, and you found her looking rather pensive: one arm crossed over her chest, the other resting on it as she rubbed her chin with her thumb, eyes focused down at the pitch with her brows slightly creased. It looked like longing to you, a burning desire to return home–to start playing football again. The sight evoked such a feeling in you that you couldn’t help but capture the moment. This shot, however, you were going to keep for yourself.

 Now that you knew where Alexia was, following the client’s requisites just got a lot easier. Up until the final whistle, you immersed yourself in your work and the game, focusing more on Mapi and Caroline as they were playing. There were times that allowed you to shift your camera to the stands to where Alexia was and took shots of her, too. By the time you knew it, the game ended and Barcelona won 1-0.

You expected a celebration from Barcelona because they were in their turf after all so you loaded up your camera with a freshly charged battery. The next thing you knew, Alexia was there with the team, hugging and patting them congratulations and her teammates beamed at her, happy to see her there. 

Click You took a shot. 

The players then began their procession around the stadium, waving at and signing things for their supporters. Through your camera, you saw Mapi signing the shirt of a young girl. Click. Next to her was Caroline, reaching over the barrier to sign a ball, smiling as she talked to the boy holding it. Click. 

The procession was near enough that you could hear their banters, growing louder as they approached where you were and the beating of your heart thumped as loud as the chants from the crowd. You congratulated the players as they passed and kept your camera away out of respect. You looked at the end of the line and you met Alexia’s gaze. She was smiling at you while she talked to Irene Paredes beside her and she never took her eyes off you. There was a gleam in them, something akin to mischief and… a challenge? If so, why? 

At that you raised an unimpressed brow at her, both a question and a statement. Your reaction seemed to amuse her because her smile turned into a full smirk.

The procession passed but Alexia lagged behind, something that didn’t go unnoticed by Irene who threw Alexia a questioning look. You watched as Alexia waved her off before she began walking your way and you didn’t miss the fluttering of shutters from your fellow photographers’ cameras. Some called Alexia’s name to get her attention but she ignored them, her attention only at you. You barely had enough time to school your features and hide any signs of familiarity before she was standing in front of you.

“Hey, you. You made it here after all.” Alexia said cooly, lips slanted in a half-smile, one hand in a jean pocket.

“Yeah, I did. Sorry, but do I know you?” You asked in an excessively dry tone paired with an raised eyebrow, but you made sure your voice was just loud enough for her to hear. Catching your drift, Alexia laughed, rubbing the bridge of her nose to try and cover it up. 

“I suppose not,” she extended a hand towards you, “I’m Alexia, and I’m sorry about… you know.”

“Nice to officially meet you, Alexia. Congratulations on the win, by the way.” You shook her hand, ignored the way her warmth seeped into your skin, and hummed. “You know, you remind me of someone I know. Your resemblance to her is uncanny.”

Alexia nodded as she took her hand back, lips quirked. “I think I know who you’re talking about. I think she also wants to know if she could stop by later tonight?” 

Your cheeks warmed and you didn’t fight the smile that made its way to your face. “I did tell her she could whenever she’s free.”

“So, yes?”

“Yes.”

———

You braced your weight against the headboard, forehead over your folded arms, eyes barely open and the erotic sight in front of you did nothing to help the building flood in you. With your thighs bracing her head and from this angle, you could only see Alexia’s closed eyes but you felt her hands roaming and supporting your lower back as her mouth and tongue worked on you. 

She was taking her sweet time though, brushing her tongue over your clit lightly, sucking just enough to build up the pleasure but nothing too much to bring you over the edge. You whined because she did it again only with more pressure this time, circling your clit a few times before she moved away again. You were starting to learn that she liked to play; she liked to take her time and get as many reactions from you until she was satisfied, until she’d completely unravelled you.

A particularly cruel swipe of her tongue, accompanied by the obscenely wet sound it made, nearly incited a sob from your lips but the plea you made was nothing short of similar.

“Ale… please…” You panted.

“–my name.”

“Huh?” You whined out, not hearing what Alexia said after a flick from her tongue sent shivers down your spine.

“Say my name.”

Then she circled your clit with more urgency after she said that–demanding. You keened and ignored her, canting your hips forward to chase that delicious friction you were desperately searching for. 

“Ale… Ale… please!”

Then she stilled completely and you cried out in protest, eyes flying open to meet lidded hazel ones.

“What–”

“Say my name.” She licked your inner thigh deliberately close to where you wanted it the most.

“Alexia, pl–” You didn’t even need to beg because right after her name left your mouth, overwhelming heat was all you could feel as she ate you out earnestly. Her hands gripped your thighs so tight that you wouldn’t be able to pull away–not that you could ever do such a thing.

“Oh, fuck!” 

Euphoria tore through your body in concurrent waves with brutal intensity that it ripped the strength from your bones while your muscles shook helplessly. Even the gentle touches from Alexia tongue as she cleaned you up were enough to make you hiss from overstimulation. 

God… she really did a number on you this time.

After you finally calmed down, you shifted so that you could lay by Alexia’s side, kissing your way up from the column of her neck to her lips where you found your taste heavy on her tongue. You dragged your fingers from the crest of her hip to her breast, feeling the ridges of her hard-earned muscles as you did so and revelled in the way they tensed beneath your touch, the softness of her breast a beautiful contrast to the firmness of her stomach.

Alexia gasped when you rolled her nipple between your fingers and you gladly swallowed it as you deepened the kiss. You slotted your leg to apply pressure between her thighs, ample wetness coated your skin and you couldn’t help but moan at her arousal.

You nipped a path down between the valley of her breasts but not before you had given both of her nipples the attention they deserved. You continued your journey, licking and nipping at her skin as you moved down her toned stomach.

As soon as you reached her navel, she parted her legs to make space for you. You kissed her inner thighs, loving the way they tensed beneath your lips and as you trailed closer to her core, you flashed your gaze upwards to meet hers. When you finally got the first taste of her tonight, you watched intently through lidded eyes as she closed hers, dropping her head on the pillow and sighed out a long, low moan. 

You gave her a few slow and broad strokes, closing your eyes as you savoured her taste. When she began to urge her hips quicker, you picked up your pace all the while mapping her thighs and stomach with your palms.

You found you liked how responsive she was to your touches, liked the way she demanded for more which you gladly gave to her as she asked for them. And when she cradled the back of your head and buried her fingers in your hair so she could meet your tongue the way she wanted it, you moaned loudly, taking from the way she took hers from you.

“Yes, right there, just–” Her back arched and you clung to her hips like a lifeline. You rolled your tongue against her and sucked, not wanting to disrupt the pace of her fall. 

And fall, she did.

She came on your tongue and you accepted it with a grateful moan, slowing down your pace as she came back down from her high. It was sticky and heady, a reward that you lapped up eagerly, and from the pleased way Alexia threaded her fingers through your hair, she was satisfied. Like her, you took your time cleaning her up because after all it was only polite to do so and you enjoyed the way her leg muscle tensed when you kissed her clit one last time. 

Content with your work, you kissed the top of her left thigh as a form of gratitude but instead of making your way up, you traced the line of muscle that lead down to her knee where scars from her injury had carved themselves permanently into her skin.

You’d kissed those same scars the last time you were together without knowing the story behind them and now that you know, you dragged your lips over them ever more softly, looking Alexia in the eye as you did so. She watched you intently with lips slightly parted, eyes dark and lidded.

Alexia bent forward so she could reach out to you, lifting your chin with a gentle hand. Then she brushed her thumb over your upper lip to wipe the wetness there but before she could pull it away, you parted your lips and took her thumb into you mouth, sucking and licking off the taste there, never taking your eyes off hers.

“My god,” came her breathless murmur before she moaned out, “come here.”

Then she guided you to her mouth with her gentle grip on your chin and before you knew it, you were under her again, sighing in grateful surrender to the mercy of her and her hands. She kissed and ravaged you many times over–and you, her–that by the end of the night, you’d completely forgotten the weight of her name.

[redhairedwolfwitch]

On The Pitch With Her Goalie - Clàudia Pina x Reader

A/n: the next part of the Score A Goalie universe... yes it's a universe... enjoy!

///

The remaining five league matches were your last five possible chances to show everyone what you could do in goal whilst at Barcelona. 

You were still waiting on a reply from Lola, but you shoved it all down, knowing that she and Atleti were in Seville for the away game against Real Betis. Ending in a draw due to a penalty from Lola’s yellow card offense. A draw that had ended Atleti’s UWCL qualification chances. You knew she would be blaming herself, so your messages were left unanswered.

Cata was selected to start against Sporting Huelva, but you were the goalkeeper on the bench, getting the opportunity to warm up with her before sitting down next to Patri, who greeted you with a raised eyebrow.

“Did you have a nightmare last night or something?”

“Kinda.” You shrugged off her question, but you knew she’d heard you yell out into the darkness for Lola.

“Shush, don’t distract me, Clàudia is captain.” You shushed Patri, who had no shame smiling and laughing at your demeanour.

“Probably why you didn’t start, you have heart eyes every time Pina is in your view.” Patri didn’t see the look on your face after she said that, or how you faltered, staring at the ground for a moment before returning to watch the game in silence.

Sitting forwards in your seat, your elbows rested on your knees as you watched the game intently. You clapped when Laia got her first goal of the season, the only goal as half-time arrived and you were grimacing at the choice of songs they were playing in the stadium. The second goal for Barcelona came from a defender too, this time Jana scoring as the bench and crowd erupted in cheers.

You couldn’t help but grin at how energised the crowd became when Alexia went to warm up, not even noticing how Patri had stood up from next to you to warm up because Alexia had removed her orange bib, making you realise it was getting close to being time.

Time for the return of Alexia Putellas.

You grinned as Clàudia sat down next to you, quickly kissing her cheek because you knew nobody would be watching the bench. Everyone would be watching captain Alexia Putellas return to the pitch after ten months.

Emma and Ingrid eventually joined you and Clàudia on the bench, your leg bouncing up and down as you watched the game, Clàudia’s hand resting on your thigh to try stop the jiggling as she watched the game too.

The weather caught your attention as a drop of water hit your knee, glancing up during stoppage time to see the incoming downpour.

“The skies cry in celebration.” You whispered, hearing Clàudia chuckle from besides you at your poeticness.

Running onto the pitch at the end of the match, hand in hand with your fiancee, the two of you joined the chaotic celebrations of the Barcelona team. With this victory, Barcelona had enough points to win the league, the rain not dampening anyone’s spirits.

Clàudia looked away from you for a moment to hug Alexia, turning around to spot you hanging from the crossbar of the goal.

“Do not climb that in the rain!” Clàudia joked as she ran over, pausing as she recognised where you were stood as you jumped down.

“Te amo.”

“Yo también te amo.” the two of you ended up running after the rest of the squad as they made their rounds around the field. Clàudia wrapping a Barcelona flag around her waist and then a Barcelona scarf around your neck as Fifth Harmony blasted through the stadium.

The rain was coming down heavily but everyone continued to celebrate, “I wish I could kiss you right now.” you confessed to your fiancee, who smiled knowingly at you in response. She felt the same way, the rain coming down, on the pitch where the two of you first properly met.

“I still feel like a traffic cone in this orange!” You pointed out as Alexia went to get the league trophy, the entire team gathering for photos, including you this time. Barcelona Liga Campeonas 2023.

Marta and Alexia lifted the trophy as everyone cheered, your ears ringing from the excitement in the stadium and your face ached from smiling so much.

“Wait, come here!” you laughed, pulling down the back of Clàudia’s Liga Campeonas 2023 shirt that had rolled up as she pulled it on, on top of her jersey. Fabric hit the side of your head, one of the Campeonas shirts crumpled up on your shoulder as you turned to look at Mapi in confusion.

“You get one too!”

“Me?” Your face crumbled up in confusion at the idea, even when each of the squad staff had a shirt too, holding the shirt in your hands as Alexia being given a microphone.

“Are you crying?”

“It’s the rain.” You bluffed, making Caro raise an eyebrow but you shook your head, wiping at your face hurriedly. The rain had simmered down a while ago, making your excuse bogus but Caro didn’t call you out on it, instead pulling you into a side hug as you all walked around the pitch, Clàudia far ahead in front with Alexia and the league trophy.

“This team is magical.”

///

“What are you watching?” Patri enquired, finding you sat on the couch watching the television intensively.

“Second leg semi, Arsenal versus Wolfsburg. Sold out Emirates.” You explained, running your left hand over your face for a moment, but that moment caught Patri’s attention.

“In German- Ey! You’re wearing it! Pina finally gave it to you!”

“Yes, Patri. My fiancee finally gave the ring she picked out to me, after I got hers in New York last year.” You deadpanned, brushing off Patri pointing out you were listening to German commentary, and struggling. Most of your memory of the German language was gone, whilst Dutch had been kept alive through Merel’s lessons. Spanish and English remained your most fluent in that moment in time.

“Fiancee? I- You and Pina are engaged? ENGAGED?”

“What is this game?” You exclaimed as VAR was put into use for the second time since the game started less than fifteen minutes ago.

“What did you think the ring was for?” Clàudia teased as she walked in, wearing her ring. You blanked out the commentary of the match, listening to Clàudia and Patri talking in Spanish about the rings and how you two had gone from promising each other to biting the bullet and going for a full on engagement.

“Wolfsburg final!” You shouted loudly as the match came to an end in extra time, feeling bad for the Arsenal players but you knew the final in Eindhoven would be magical with this Barcelona team.

///

The away game against Real Sociedad had you sitting on the bench with Cata, your mind getting the best of you as you began to doubt everything. Atleti had finally rotated Lola onto the bench to play Paula, with Carmen as captain but they had lost 1-0 against Levante Las Planas. A glance over the squad list left your eyes widening as you realised a slight issue. Atleti only had three forwards listed. Three yellow cards for Atleti and three yellows for Levante Las Planas later, and you were doubting more than just your own skills as a goalkeeper. You were doubting whether you would grow from going back to Atleti.

“¿En qué estás pensando?” Cata enquired, wondering what you were thinking, but the hiss you made as the Real Sociedad goalie saved the shot created from Barcelona’s corner.

“Demasiado.” Too much. You hummed as you watched Mariona get a yellow card, before zoning out. Clàudia and a chunk of the Barcelona squad were resting instead of playing this match.

“Demasiado?” Cata frowned, but you shook your head, remaining silent until Patri scored the first goal of the match, which you clapped and cheered at, before you were clapping and cheering again as Asisat scored four minutes later. Four minutes later, you were clapping again, this time Aitana scoring. Three minutes later, Caro headed the ball in, taking the score up to 4-0 before it was 35 minutes in.

The clean sheet didn’t last much longer though, as Real Sociedad’s Jensen scored in the 38th minute, taking it to 4-1.

Post half-time break, Caro sent the score up to 5-1 after Real Sociedad made three substitutions but mentally you had checked out of the game, drafting up a conversation in your head to have with your management.

An own goal from Patri sent the score up to 5-2, with substitutions on both sides including the likes of Alexia, Vicky and Bruna for Barcelona left you and Cata quietly talking about goalkeeping techniques until the game was over. Barcelona had won 5-2.

///

The rescheduled away game against Sevilla had a shuffled squad list, with the plan for Gemma to start going out the window as she was injured during the warm-up. With Sandra back in Barcelona with the others who were being rested, this match was yours, plus Paredes with the captain’s armband.

Sevilla were fumbling their own chances without the requirement of you getting in the way of their attempts of goal, whilst Barcelona’s attempts at goal were fruitless in the first 15 minutes as well. The wind remained almost booming in your ears as debris was blown around the pitch in the flurry.

“I felt like I was going to blow away in the wind.” You confessed later on when you returned home from Sevilla, home to your lover.

Sevilla’s attempt at the 26th minute went directly into your gloves, the ball heading back up the other end of the pitch but Geyse’s goal attempt went wide. Eventually at the 30th minute, the thirty degree celsius heat had both teams going for a cooling break.

You shrugged at Paredes as she glanced at you, a Sevilla player having gone down in the box that Paredes was dealing with, but no penalty was given, or yellow card. You weren’t even sure Paredes had clipped her, but you were in no mood to deal with the ref.

Halftime and it was 0-0.

Spotting the incoming cross, you didn’t slide forwards to try to stop the ball or the player incoming with it, instead shuffling back to slam your body onto the ball, barely stopping Sevilla’s goal attempt, something that Sandra or Gemma may have failed to do.

You let out a breath as you spotted the three Barcelona substitutions lining up, Alexia, Asisat and Mapi entering the game at the 65th minute.

A cooling break at the 75th minute left you able to sip your drink, listening to tactics and how it was almost 1-0 to Sevilla. But it wasn’t, thanks to you.

“Thank fuck.” You murmured as Ana managed to get the ball into the goal in the 80th minute, watching intently from your goal as the Sevilla goalkeeper was a lot busier than you were, until the last minute of stoppage time, but Sevilla’s shot went wide.

The full time whistle was eventually blown, a 1-0 win to Barcelona. Deep down, in another universe you knew the game would have ended 1-1, but you bite your tongue, making a beeline for the Sevilla goalie instead.

///

“Hey, which photo do I post for Medina’s birthday? Wait this one has the rings in it… better not upstage anything with an accidental engagement announcement…” you trailed off, removing the photo that could reveal the engagement too early.

Technically speaking, Barcelona were in the dark about the engagement but Patri. You weren’t entirely sure how, since you knew Alexia suspected something, but the two of you kept it to families. So Clàudia’s family knew, and your family did. Your little Atleti family. Lola, Carmen and Andrea, even though you joked you were a child of divorce through Lola and Carmen, resulting in Lola almost picking you up like a baby, but you hid behind Andrea.

“Don’t hide behind your baby sister.”

“Don’t be rude to your firstborn.” You retorted, sticking your tongue out at Lola who raised an eyebrow at you in challenge.

“Our firstborn who ran away to Barcelona and got engaged?” Carmen joked, pulling you into her side as you tensed up, pouting.

“I didn’t run, I got a flight… and I didn’t want to leave.” 

Shaking off the memory, you picked out the Atleti family photo you wanted, a group photo where Lola had Andrea in a hug/headlock, whilst Carmen had you on her back in a piggy back, nobody aware of how you had stuck two fingers up in the air behind Lola’s head but the photo had been taken mid-laughter for the birthday girl.

///

Ten changes had been made from the starting XI of last match against Sevilla, with your remaining the only player who played both matches, starting against Athletic Club at home, the Estadi.

Your fiancee still wasn’t 100% after her injury, so she was in the stands with Lucy and Rolfö, and you think you saw Gemma up there too. Atleti were playing against Villareal at the same time this game was kicking off, the ball coming back to you quickly, and you had to be quicker to get it away as you spotted the red and white Athletic Club jersey clad player running right at you.

Even without their captain on the pitch due to an injury in a clash against Asisat, Athletic Club were fierce but Barcelona were better. But Athletic Club’s captain was down again, forcing the club to substitute her off.

The results of Athletic’s free kick went straight into your gloves, allowing you to send the ball back in, watching as it headed back up the pitch for another goal attempt to go wide.

The ball at your feet at the 37th minute, you sent the ball back in, glancing at Engen across the pitch who had gone down moments before.

“Fuck!” You grunted, jumping up to punch the incoming ball away from the free kick, but the corner for Athletic Club was fruitless.

Marta’s incoming ball made you grimace, sending the ball away to almost hit an Athletic Club player in the head, letting out a breath as it ended up away from both, and the halftime whistle was blown.

0-0 at halftime, whilst Atleti were down 1-0 to Villareal.

Barcelona were stacking corners as you watched from your goal, but it took an hour for Barcelona to score, Caro striking the ball into the corner of the goal to take it to 1-0.

Letting out a breath, you observed as Laia went off for Irene, Ingrid off for Keira and Nuria off for Ana in the 63rd and 64th minutes. A header from Irene doubled Barcelona’s lead moments after the previous goal attempt was too unclear, no aerial camera to check if it had passed the line. Making the score 2-0.

The Estadi lit up with cheers as Alexia and Mariona were subbed on for Patri and Aitana, but you didn’t acknowledge it, instead swiping the incoming ball up into your arms easily.

A long ranged shot at your goal went flying over, you watching as it went wide, retrieving a ball for a goal kick.

The last touch of the match was Salma’s goal, the game ending 3-0 and the final game at the Estadi Johan Cruyff before the UWCL final in Eindhoven was done.

“Atleti finished 1-1.” Gemma informed you as she and the other injured players who had watched from the stands, including your fiancee who made her way over to hug you, but you could see the sadness in her eyes as you removed your gloves and tucked them into the waistband of your shorts.

“What’s wrong, mi amor?” Your thumb stroking her cheek, completely ignoring how the Estadi was full of fans who could see.

“I wish I was playing on the pitch with you, before you have to go back to Atleti.” 

“Atleti will probably loan me somewhere else next season… I don’t want to leave you, I want to marry you, and be by your side.” You confessed, your voice quieting but she heard, pulling you into a hug where she could discreetly press a kiss to your neck.

///

“Vamos! Vamos!” Patri’s shouting made you want to hurry up the call, but you felt like Atleti were dragging you around in circles. It went from an update about your training and performance in the latest Barcelona matches, but as soon as next season was brought up, you got no definitive answer.

“Am I really that bad? Is that why they won’t play me? Yet they keep my hands tied with my contract- please… I can’t sit on the bench for a whole season, not again.” Your voice broke as you hung up the phone with your manager, moving from sitting at the edge of the bottom of the bed to the floor with your back against it.

“Mi amor? We have to go for the parade.” Clàudia walked over, her feet perpendicular to yours as you pulled your knees to your chest.

“You two should go, I don’t even think I’m supposed to be there-”

“Come with me.”

“That’s what she said.” You whispered, wiping away a stray tear as Clàudia passed you the campeonas shirt you were given at the Sporting Huelva game.

“This is yours-”

“Fiancees share clothes too.” Clàudia replied, smirking as she revealed she was wearing her engagement ring.

“We’re telling the Barça squad today? What are the odds that none of them even notice our engagement rings in all the chaos?” You raised your eyebrows, noticing how Clàudia’s fingers trailed up your arms before she met your eyes.

“Te amo, bebé.”

“Yo también te amo. Siempre.”

///

The excitement of the crowds of Barcelona fans for the parade dedicated to both teams immediately washed away the horrid feelings you had felt after your phone call. Staring out over the crowd with your hands on the rails, you tensed up as an arm pulled you into a hug, before realising it was Sandra as she grinned at you.

“Hola!” You grinned back, chatting to one of your goalkeeper mentors now in your career, not seeing how Clàudia was being teased by Patri for something, or how the approaching Barcelona captain had spotted a particular piece of jewellery on Clàudia’s left hand.

“I knew it.” Alexia smirked, pulling Clàudia into a hug and kissing the younger player’s head with pride, “pancake flipping accident… you two thought you were subtle, trying to keep it quiet!”

“They are not quiet at home!” Patri added, making Clàudia’s ears burn, but she laughed, shoving off Patri’s teasing as she looked over at you, in a deep conversation with Sandra and Ana before Irene was involved too. Your arms were folded in a way that hid your hands, meaning your ring hadn’t been seen yet.

Only Clàudia’s ring, which you obtained in New York, had been spotted at that moment.

It was only when you went to adjust the bucket hat all but shoved on your head that your ring caught some people’s eyes.

“Wait a minute-”

“What? No! Who- who proposed to who?” Sandra looked between you and Clàudia, who was trapped in a hug with Alexia who started to bring the younger girl over.

“Nobody asked for my permission!”

“Technically the ring was a promise ring but I let Clàudia choose-”

“We are engaged! No more questions, I want to dance with my fiancee!” Clàudia replied, taking your hand and guiding you away from the chaotic older Barcelona players, the two of you dancing on the rooftop of the bus without a care in the world.

“They grew up so fast.” Sandra smiled, wiping away a tear as Alexia hummed and nodded, remembering the days when you were hiding behind Lola, Carmen and Vir, whilst Clàudia was hiding behind Jenni and herself, before the parade took over everyone’s thoughts, long into the night after it had ended.

///

Virginia ringing you the day after the parade wasn’t something you expected, but you didn’t expect her to break the news she was leaving Atleti after the final match of the season, against Granadilla Tenerife.

“They were fools not to give you any minutes.” You murmured, an anger in your voice that Virginia recognised. The two of you had experienced the troubles first hand of not getting next to any minutes for an entire season.

“What will you do?” Virginia enquired, but you shook your head, not realising she couldn’t see you do that over the phone, leaving you to explain.

“I raised hell, my manager knows Atleti and Barcelona have played with my self-esteem so much. I want to be the first choice goalie. The only person who puts me first is my fiancee. Atleti won’t swap out Lola, and Barcelona have Sandra, Cata and Gemma. Atleti have me on contract for another year but I’m going on loan to get minutes. My management is specifically arranging something apparently. Guess I’m doing a lot of travelling next season… I’m not sure how we’re supposed to plan a wedding if I’m in a different country for each transfer window but… enough about me, where will you go?” You replied, wondering if Virginia would be moving from Madrid, or even Spain entirely.

“Vir… no matter where you are, you’re family. You deserve the world.”

///

Atleti’s final league game of the season was Friday night, whilst Barcelona’s game was Sunday at noon, and with a little bit of persuasion, you were able to leave after morning training for your flight to Madrid. Your fiancee was staying behind as she was fully fit and able to be in the squad list for the final Barcelona league match, an away game against Madrid CFF. This meant you would be meeting up with the Barcelona squad on their arrival to Madrid on Saturday.

You hadn’t worn your Atleti jersey in half a season, but there you were, sitting in the stands watching Atleti play against Granadilla Tenerife, clad in your Atleti home goalie jersey. 

Medina spotted you first, after she got her yellow card in the 28th minute, but you just grinned, waving at her. Banini spotted you next when she was subbed off for Eva, about to divert from the bench to run over and hug you, but she was stopped by security.

Ajibade and Cardona spotted Banini’s antics, spotting you talking to security before you were being guided from the stands.

“Did they just kick our goalie from the game?”

They did not. You ended up being guided by one of the assistant coaches from behind the scenes to the pitch, in time for Eva’s goal, and the final substitution of Virginia Torrecilla onto the pitch for Atleti.

Vir spotted you as she approached to be substituted on, about to run over but she was being urged onto the pitch, and you were swooped up into Maitane’s arms.

Your teammates had missed you.

The match ended with four goals for Atleti, Latorre, Cardona and Eva all scoring plus an own goal from a Granadilla Tenerife player. The focus went to Virginia, as Lola and Carmen presented her with her shirt, framed. Not a dry eye in the stadium as everyone took the opportunity to high five her in the line then hug her later, and you were able to present her with the flower bouquet. Red and white flowers of course.

Wiping at your eyes with the neckline of your jersey, you were swooped up into the chaos of everyone throwing Virginia in the air, reminding you of the Supercopa game against Barcelona, back when Vir was returning to play after dealing with her brain tumour.

The team hug warmed your heart as you held onto Merel, who quietly asked about your Dutch lessons, but you gave her a nervous smile. Merel playfully rolled your eyes, but murmured about what you would do if you were ever called up to play internationally. You shook your head instead, having thrown that idea out the window a while ago.

It didn’t take too long for the photos of the farewell to be uploaded to social media, but Vir didn’t expect the post you put up as you slept on Carmen’s couch for the night. Photos dating back from when you first arrived at Atleti, before you met Lola, and before you met Medina. The photos including you, Carmen and Vir, before ones also featuring Lola, then also featuring Medina surfaced. The final image consisted of you, Virginia, Carmen, Lola, Medina and Pina, with the caption ‘Mi familia. Siempre.’

///

You spent the time before the Barcelona players arrived in Madrid at Atleti’s training centre, a laptop set up for a zoom call as you went over exercises with the assistant goalkeeper coach at Barcelona on the call.

After that, you went to head to the hotel that the Barcelona players would be arriving at soon, talking to fans and signing jerseys or whatever else they wanted to be signed. One fan asked a question that kept bugging you though.

Were you staying at Atleti?

You had a year left on your contract, but Atleti squandered their chances. Barcelona had no need for you, and it wasn’t like there were many clubs close to Barcelona in the league besides Levante Las Planas. Atleti were sending you on loan next season, sending you away from your fiancee, but she knew you couldn’t take being on the bench for another season.

Staring into space with the hotel staff waiting for Barcelona’s arrival, you were taken off guard as a hand wrapped around you in a side hug, but this time by a Barcelona player, not an Atleti one. 

“You okay?” Alexia enquired, raising an eyebrow at the far away look on your face.

“Existential crisis.”

“Pina?” Alexia began to frown but you immediately shook your head.

“Football career crisis. Loving Clàudia is the only thing that is stopping me from going into a full on crisis. I want to be with her and marry her, but you guys don’t need another goalkeeper, and Atleti benched me for half a season… it wrecks my self-esteem and I know I wouldn’t do this to my goalkeepers if I was in charge of it all. I can barely be a second choice goalie right now and... it makes me want to quit, but also I don’t really want to be reduced to a WAG.” You explained, moving further into the hotel lobby as you spoke.

“I don’t want you to be my WAG. You’re my goalie, who I’m going to marry.” Clàudia added, looking at you lovingly until her team mother, Alexia butted in.

“You two are not rooming together. But you should talk to your management-”

“Ay dios mío!” Clàudia spluttered, “we are engaged!”

“I have, they’re fighting Atleti, and I have the number for a sports psychologist too… and y’know, my future wife who is apparently not allowed to see me until the match tomorrow because we can’t room together. We literally share a bed every night in Barcelona… We’re engaged!” you rambled but Alexia still raised her eyebrows, shaking her head.

“We don’t need to find out how thin the hotel walls are.”

“Oh my god!” you grimaced at that, grimacing even more as Patri walked past with her suitcase, trying to avoid looking at you and Clàudia, and refusing to look Alexia in the eye.

///

You weren’t originally going to start in the final match of the league, but with Sandra experiencing some sort of muscle discomfort during the warm-up, you were the suggested substitution since it would be your final match with the team and Sandra had faith in you.

Taking the minutes given to you, you didn’t look at the stands throughout the warm-ups with Cata, but if you had, you would have seen some of your Atleti teammates waiting to watch the game. 

Madrid CFF were fifth in the league, but had been a thorn in the sides of Levante and Real Madrid.

“Jeez.” You murmured as you watched Marta’s shot go straight into the feet of a Madrid CFF player. 

Kundananji’s shot went over, not requiring you to make a save, but the Madrid CFF striker had gotten past Mapi and Paredes.

Kundananji was coming back though, as you hurried forward to block the ball, before it was sent back at you, making you huff as the ball went back down the pitch.

“Is that- baby goalie is louder than you when you’re captain, Lola.” 

Lola turned her head to acknowledge her teammate, but she couldn’t help but agree. You were loud in sorting out the formation of your defensive line, sick of it falling apart already but Kundananji’s next attempt was ruled offside.

The ball returned back to you after the free kick from Geyse’s yellow card, allowing you to send it further down the pitch. The ball kept coming back to you, but this time Mariona sent it out as Asisat was down. Asisat was set to continue however, but the UWCL final was in just over two weeks.

Sending the ball away before Kundananji could get to it, you were ready to argue with the assistant referees as Mapi was sent to the ground but Asisat being subbed off for Salma happened instead of a foul being called.

If you were Sandra, you would have ran forwards to stop Kundananji, but you weren’t, lingering back, you launched yourself onto the ball, almost winding yourself in the process. Mapi and Paredes barely had time to catch up as you let out a breath, laying on the ground for another moment with the ball clamped in your arms.

A hand patted your back as you got up, unhappy with your defensive line but you were more happy that it hadn't ended up being 1-0 to Madrid CFF, sending the ball back down the pitch. Madrid CFF’s goalkeeper was good as you saw the save she managed to make in the game highlights later on.

Kundananji was coming back though, making you shuffle and lunge to the side, blocking the ball from deflecting from the post and into the goal, but your ribs hated you for the action, you were slower to get up but without your efforts, Barcelona would have been down 2-0.

Salma’s goal wasn’t counted as half-time was called in the same final seconds, leaving you to shake your head confusedly, heading to grab your drinks bottle then make a beeline inside to the locker room, not realising that your Atleti teammates were trying to get your attention. Your attention though went to your fiancee, who held out an ice pack to you, concern in her eyes as you began to ice your side temporarily.

Your drive was different, you weren’t on the Barcelona squad list for the UWCL, so this was your last match of the season. Your last chance before you opened Pandora’s jar with Atleti.

Half-time was over, the final 45 minutes of league football for Barcelona and Madrid CFF this season had started. Araya’s attempt on goal went over, but even with your attempts to sort out the defensive backline, Madrid CFF were still getting through.

Bonsegundo managed to get right in front of goal, much to your dislike, but even with the offside flag going up, she managed to scoop the ball over onto the net, leaving you to jump up and knock the ball down from where it was stuck on top of the net.

Mapi somehow didn’t get a second yellow as Alexia, Ingrid and Jana were all subbed on, not taking long for a Barcelona corner to turn into Alexia’s first goal since returning from her ACL injury. Taking the score to 1-0 Barcelona, but in another universe, it would be 2-1.

Your fiancee running up and down the sidelines warming up caught your attention momentarily, but Salma sending the ball flying towards you stole your attention back, sending the ball out to Paredes quickly.

“What is this game?” you murmured to yourself, watching as Alexia going down in the penalty box got only a free kick, but your fiancee being subbed on for Mariona was enough to try to bring some calm to the very messy game.

Until you spotted your fiancee getting a yellow card, dragging your gloved hands down your face, you waited for the game to resume.

Paredes awkwardly sent the ball back to you, allowing you to relay it back to Jana, but Patri’s chance went wide, the score remaining 1-0 to Barcelona into the 87th minute.

Five minutes of added time were thrown into the mix, Barcelona determined to try to get another goal, but Madrid CFF were determined too.

Your stomach dropped as Patri was sweeped to the ground in a sliding tackle, wincing in pain and slow to get up. Pina’s shot went wide thirty seconds into the end of stoppage time, but the final whistle went and you dropped to the ground.

Sitting on the goaline, you glanced towards the stands to observe the Madrid CFF fans and the Barcelona fans, but you didn’t expect to spot Atleti players in the stands.

Pina, Patri and Ana all paused as you sprinted past them all, Ingrid and Mapi barely able to get out the way as you reached the stands, jumping up and climbing to reach Carmen first, Andrea and Lola both next before you began to reach the rest of your Atleti teammates who had come to the match.

“You did so well!”

“How are your ribs?”

“Sore. But I needed to make those two saves, it could have been 2-1. I didn’t want to be blamed for Barcelona losing their streak.” You admitted, before water was poured over your head.

“Thanks for that.” You deadpanned, wiping the water from your eyes with your jersey neckline as Andrea grinned, the two of you beginning to laugh as you realised Lola and Carmen were trying to hide their laughter too.

///

“Ey! Pina! Where are they hiding? Are they okay?” Sandra began to question Pina at the team barbecue. You were nowhere in sight but nobody seemed to be too worried.

“Atleti called. We are saving a plate.” Your fiancee explained, gesturing to how there was a spare plate being passed along the line, with no suggested owner.

“A good call or a bad call?”

Pina sighed at Sandra’s question, not sure how much you wanted the others to know, but a notification on her phone revealing you had posted on instagram caught her attention.

The sun on her phone screen made whatever you had posted hard to see, but when the brightness adjusted, she couldn’t help but smile at the reel you had uploaded.

A reel of your best saves at Atleti and Barcelona, before a photo of when you were revealed to have signed with Atleti back in 2020 was shown, followed by a photo of you at training with Barcelona. Pina’s stomach twisted as she spotted the caption ‘the journey continues’ but it didn’t feel like a goodbye message.

You had reassured her that you would fight for her, and fight for your career however you could, and she supported that, and supported you like you supported her.

‘Gotta catch em all’ with a heart and a football emoji.

Probably overkill, but you understood the reference, and Pina had knowledge of Pokemon, the franchise having reached Spain before she was born. But the catchphrase also worked as a goalkeeper reference, supported by the heart eyes emoji you replied to your fiancee’s instagram comment.

“Don’t they have another year on contract at Atleti? Also, who edited that? They can barely use photoshop!” Patri asked, raising an eyebrow at Pina, who looked down at her plate in thought.

“Atleti are loaning me for experience. It was that, or terminate my contract.” You explained, walking over after a detour to be given the plate of food from the team barbecue.

“Any idea where?” Sandra enquired, trying to hide her sadness at the goalkeeper union decreasing in numbers, but it was easier to hide her smile when you kissed Pina on the head as you sat down.

“Multiple places.” You were ambiguous, but your fingertips drawing patterns on your fiancee’s leg soothed her. The two of you were aware that you would tell Pina later, at home in bed together. The two of you would cherish it, because even with your ambiguity, Clàudia knew your time in Barcelona was coming to an end, for now.

[mapsontheweb]

Decade of foundation of the oldest football club in European countries.

by u/Massimo25ore

England: Sheffield Football Club 1857

Wales: Wrexham A.F.C. 1864

Scotland: Queen’s Park Football Club Glasgow 1867

Denmark: Kjobenhavns Boldklub 1876

The Netherlands: Koninklijke Haarlemse FC 1879

Northern Ireland: Cliftonville Football Club 1879

Switzerland: FC St. Gallen 1879

France: FC Girondins de Bordeaux 1881

Hungary: Ujpest FC 1885

Belgium: Royal Antwerp Football Club 1887

Finland: Helsingin Ponnistus 1887

Ireland: Athlone Town A.F.C. 1887

Portugal: Associaçao Académica de Coimbra 1887

Sweden: Oergryte Idrottssaellskap Gothenburg 1887

Germany: BFC Germania Berlin 1888

Spain: Real Club Recreativo de Huelva 1889

Greece: Panionios Football Club 1890

Malta: Saint George’s Football Club Cospicua 1890

Czech Republic: SK Slavia Prague 1892

Italy: Genoa Cricket and Football Club 1893

Austria: First Vienna Football Club 1894

Norway: Odds Ballklubb Skien 1894

Slovakia: 1. FC Tatran Presov 1898

Estonia: Eesti Spordiselts Kalev 1901

Serbia: FK Backa Subotica 1901

Turkey: Besiktas JC Istanbul 1903

Croatia: NK Rijeka 1904

Romania: FK Csikszereda Miercurea Ciuc 1904

Poland: Miejski Klub Sportowy Cracovia 1906

Latvia: British Football Club Riga 1907

Russia: FC Znamya Truda 1909

Bosnia and Herzegovina: FK Sloboda 1910

Slovenia: Nagometno Drustvo Illirija Ljubljana 1911

Bulgaria: PFK Botev Plovdiv 1912

Montenegro: Fudbalski Klub Lovcen Cetinje 1913

Ukraine: FK Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1918

Albania: Vllaznia Sport Club 1919

Lithuania: Futbolo Klubas Sveikata Kybartai 1919

North Macedonia: FK Ljuboten Tetovo 1919

[donfermin]

On December 28, the Gran Teatro de Huelva hosted the ceremony Las Uvas de la SER, organised by Radio Huelva in collaboration with Fundación Cajasol, and welcomed twelve people and organisations in recognition of their exceptional contribution to Huelva in various fields. Fermín received an award for sport.

[wososhine]

match day 2 ✨🎀🥰 fc Barcelona femeni vs sporting huelva ✨🎀🥰 free on YouTube ⏬

This Saturday at 19:00 cet!

[palaugranetes]

🚨 Fridolina Rolfo has some discomforts in her right knee.

She is not available for the match against Sporting Huelva and her recovery will determine her availability.

[outsideratheart]

Guys! Alexia is going to return on Sunday against Sporting Huelva and I’m going to miss it because I’ll be playing football myself.

[hrugbyunion]

💥 25.05.2017 Visítanos en nuestra web huelvarugbyunion.es #hayrugbyenhuelva #huelva #rugby #fitness #rugbylife #rugbyplayer #rugbyunion #rugbygram #sport #rugbylove #rugbyfamily #huelvagram #andalucia #gorilla #muscle #training #seven #playa #beach #rugbylife...

[realmadridnews]

Primera Division Femenina

Real Madrid Femenino ends the season on the 2nd place.

Women's Champions League:

FC Barcelona Femenino

Women's Champions League qualification:

Real Madrid Femenino

Atletico Madrid Femenino

Relegation:

Villarreal CF Femenino

Sporting Huelva Femenino

Promotion:

Levante Las Planas Femenino

Alhama CF Femenino

Real Madrid Femenino 2023/2024:

2. Misa Rodriguez

2. Kenti Robles

3. Teresa Abelleira

4. Rocio Galvez

5. Ivana Andres

6. Sandie Toletti

7. Olga Carmona

8. Maite Oroz

9. Signe Bruun

10. Caroline Weir

11. Oihane Hernandez

13. Mylene Chavas

14. Kathellen

15. Hayley Raso

16. Caroline Moller

17. Carla Camacho

19. Linda Caicedo

20. Naomie Feller

21. Claudia Zornoza

22. Athenea del Castillo

23. Sofie Svava

24. Freja Olofsson

27. Olaya Rodriguez

46. Marisa Garcia

48. Paula Comendador

[alexbkrieger13]

The Swedish Viaplay commentator about a Liverpool player: They signed her from Sporting (Huelva) as I'm sure you all know.

Me: 😅

Trust the sweetest commentators to be spitting facts

[newsssc]

from being the queen of dances on TikTok to her relationship with Gen Esteban

Carolina Marin (31 years old) knows what it is like to face up to life's challenges. As a professional badminton player, the Huelva native has had to make many sacrifices to reach the top of the sport with milestones such as the Olympic gold medal in Rio 2016. “In the documentary you will see that reflected many things that people cannot imagine and seeing it in pictures says a lot. I have always…

[lamilanomagazine]

Bologna, Programma di mobilità Erasmus: arrivati in città bambine e bambini spagnoli accompagnati da genitori e insegnanti

Bologna, Programma di mobilità Erasmus: arrivati in città bambine e bambini spagnoli accompagnati da genitori e insegnanti.  Sono arrivati a Bologna questa mattina e saranno ospiti della nostra città fino a venerdì 12 aprile. Si tratta di un gruppo di 8 bambine e bambini provenienti dalla Escuela de Educación Infantil La Julianita della città di Aracena, nella provincia di Huelva in Spagna. Quella che si realizza in questi giorni a Bologna è una delle prime esperienze in Europa di mobilità all'estero di bambine e bambini di una scuola dell'infanzia: si tratta di un'occasione unica di scambio e questa prima esperienza di accoglienza potrà fare da apripista, nel prossimo futuro, anche per i bambini e le bambine che frequentano i nostri servizi. Bambine e bambini sono accompagnati da un genitore ciascuno e da 3 insegnanti per vivere una settimana di attività presso la scuola dell'infanzia comunale Grosso nel Quartiere Navile. Insieme alla scuola dell'infanzia Grosso, con la collaborazione del nido Grosso, del Centro Bambini e Famiglie Tasso Inventore e con il Servizio Educativo Territoriale Aula Didattica Parco Grosso, insieme alla collaborazione delle famiglie del Polo Grosso, avranno l'occasione di visitare la città e le tante opportunità che offre alle famiglie. In sinergia con il personale della scuola inviante, il personale della scuola Grosso, il coordinamento pedagogico e il team Erasmus, è stato costruito un programma ricco di attività sia al mattino, in collaborazione con CBF e SET, che al pomeriggio per la fruizione libera delle famiglie, affinché possano scoprire le attività di Bologna a misura di bambina/o. Il gruppo avrà anche l'occasione di partecipare a una performance teatrale presso il Teatro Testoni grazie al contributo de La Baracca e le insegnanti avranno l'opportunità di partecipare alla Bologna Children Books Fair per accrescere le competenze in ambito narrativo. Il programma Erasmus + Le opportunità del Programma Erasmus + sono rivolte a un vasto pubblico di persone e organizzazioni. I principali beneficiari del programma sono i singoli individui, coinvolti attraverso progetti o partenariati attivati da organizzazioni, istituzioni, enti o altri gruppi. Le opportunità per il mondo della scuola in Erasmus + mirano a migliorare la qualità e l'efficacia dell'istruzione, al fine di permettere a tutti i cittadini europei di acquisire le competenze fondamentali. All'interno di un progetto di Mobilità Erasmus+ (finanziato con l'Azione chiave 1 del Programma), alunni e alunne hanno l'opportunità di vivere un'esperienza europea, individuale o di gruppo, di confronto con altre scuole, e di trascorrere un periodo di studio o tirocinio in uno dei paesi del programma. Si tratta di un'occasione di crescita, sviluppo di abilità e competenze per alunne e alunni e un'esperienza di grande arricchimento per la scuola nel suo insieme. Tutte le scuole possono partecipare a Erasmus+: classi intere o gruppi di studenti possono visitare scuole partner, mentre singoli studenti e studentesse hanno la possibilità di trascorrere un periodo più lungo in una scuola di un altro paese. Questa attività permette agli alunni di fare esperienza di culture, lingue e sistemi scolastici diversi, imparando con coetanei di una scuola ospitante in un altro paese.... #notizie #news #breakingnews #cronaca #politica #eventi #sport #moda Read the full article

[badmintonstorefan]

In Focus: Badminton Dynamo Carolina Marin

Badminton is an electrifying sport that requires a fine blend of skill, determination, and hard work. Carolina Marin is one player who embodies all these characteristics to become an inspiration for countless aspiring athletes worldwide. Her outstanding achievements and unwavering passion for the game make her a shining beacon of excellence and resilience.

Career Profile

1. Women’s Singles World Rank: 5 2. Women’s Singles World Tour Rank: 79 3. 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Women’s Singles Gold Winner 4. 2023 World Championships Women’s Singles Silver Winner 5. Gold Medalist at the 2023 European Games 6. Three-time Gold Winner at the World Championships 7. Six-time Champion at the European Championships

Personal Information

>> Birth Date: 15 June 1993 (age 31 as of 18th March 2024) >> Country: Spain >> Height: 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) >> Handedness: Left >> Former Coach: Fernando Rivas >> Racket: Yonex Nanoflare 1000Z >> String: Yonex Aerobite

Carolina Marin’s Most Recent Wins from 2024 and 2023

Historic victories and unwavering perseverance mark Carolina Marin's rise to badminton stardom. Her aggression on the court and mental fortitude make her a formidable player for her opponents.

1. Yonex All England Open Badminton Championships 2024 (Birmingham, England): After Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi retired, Carolina Marin won the All England Championships at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.

2. HSBC BWF World Tour Finals 2023 (Hangzhou, China): Carolina won the silver medal at the World Tour Finals after losing the match to Chinese badminton player Chen Yufei.

3. Victor Denmark Open 2023 (Odense, Denmark): Carolina Marin lost the final to secure a silver medal at the Denmark Open in October of 2023.

4. Total Energies BWF World Championships 2023 (Copenhagen, Denmark): In a grueling match of more than 40 minutes, An Se Young won the BWF World Championships, and Carolina stood second on the podium.

5. 2023 European Games (Tarnow, Poland): Carolina Marin won the European Games for the first time by defeating Denmark’s Mia Blichfeldt in two straight sets of 21-15 and 21-14.

6. Kapal API Group Indonesia Open 2023 (Jakarta, Indonesia): Marin secured the second position at the Indonesia Open in June 2023 by losing to her arch-nemesis Chen Yufei.

7. Toyota Gazoo Racing Thailand Open 2023 (Bangkok, Thailand): Marin won the bronze medal at the Thailand Open after losing the semi-final to South Korean badminton player An Se-Young.

8. Orléans Masters Badminton 2023 Presented By Victor (Orleans, France): The Spanish badminton champ won the Orleans Masters by defeating Beiwen Zhang in an intense match lasting more than an hour.

9. Madrid Spain Masters 2023 (Madrid, Spain): In April 2023, Carolina won the bronze medal at the Spain Masters after losing the match to Indonesian player Gregoria Mariska Tunjung.

10. Daihatsu Indonesia Masters 2023 (Jakarta, Indonesia): Marin defeated Chinese player Han Yue to reach the final of the Indonesia Masters. She lost the final to An Se Young after an intense match that lasted an hour and twenty minutes.

The Early Life of Spaniard Carolina Marin

Carolina was born on June 15, 1993, in Huelva, Spain, to Gonzalo Marín Pérez and Toni Martin. Her mother was a flamenco dancer, and Carolina showed signs of becoming a professional dancer. However, fate had another plan for her, and she decided to play badminton with all her heart and passion. Marin underwent training at the IES La Orden in Huelva and later at the National Centre in Madrid. Under the skilled coaching of Fernando Rivas, she evolved into an explosive player with speed and agility.

She won a silver medal at the 2009 European Junior Championships and brought laurels to Spain by becoming the first Spanish player to achieve the feat. The same year, she won gold at the European U-17 Junior Championships and the Irish International tournament. She also won the 2011 European Junior Championships and secured a bronze at the World Junior Championships.

In 2013, she became the first Spaniard to win a Grand Prix Gold after securing the first position at the London Grand Prix. She also won her first European Championships title during the same year. She won gold at the Copenhagen World Championships and European Championships in 2014.

2015 was a golden year for Carolina because she won the England Open Championship, Malaysia Open, Australian Open, French Open, and Hong Kong Open. She also won the World Championships by defeating Saina Nehwal of India. In 2016, she won the gold at the Rio Olympics and became the first non-Asian to win the Olympic badminton women's singles gold medal. She secured the European Championships in 2016 and 2017. Marin also won the Japan Open in 2017.

After a brief hiatus due to injury, Marin won her fourth consecutive European Championships in 2018. She won the World Championships by defeating P. V. Sindhu of India. It made her the first female player to win three World Championships titles. She also won the World Tour Titles at Japan Open and China Open.

She underwent ACL reconstruction surgery in 2019 and took an eight-month break to recover. She won the China Open, Syed Modi, and Italian International tournaments in September 2019.

In 2020, she reached the semi-finals and finals of several crucial tournaments. She won the Thailand Open by defeating World No. 1 Tai Tzu-Ying in 2021. She won her fifth consecutive title at the European Championships. She could not defend her title at the Tokyo Olympics due to an injury. In 2022, after several months of recovery, she won the silver at the French Open.

She won silver at the World Championships and a gold medal at the European Games in 2023. It will be exciting to see what new accolades she wins in 2024.

What is the Playing Style of Carolina Marin?

Known for her aggression, Marin possesses a rare combination of power, precision, and passion. Her success is the blend of her athleticism and strategic prowess. Her footwork is lightning-fast, and her shots are deceptive. Her smashes are strong, and she builds on the momentum once she wins a few points. Many competitors consider her a noisy opponent, but her passion makes her aggressive on the court.

Marin’s Trusted Badminton Equipment

Marin trusts the latest Yonex Nanoflare 1000Z badminton racket for her explosive shots. It delivers the perfect combination of speed and power to help you overwhelm your opponents and win points. Its new frame design and Speed Assist Bumper result in a decrease in frame warping issues and ensure increased repulsion performance.

She uses the innovative Yonex Aerobite hybrid multi-filament string for improved control over her shots. It also promises faster repulsion to make her game better than ever. She is known to prefer the Yonex Aerus Z3 badminton shoes. Her bag of choice is the Yonex Pro Tournament Bag.

Legacy and Impact

Since her foray into badminton, Carolina Marin has continued to dazzle audiences with her on-court brilliance. She has inspired millions of fans around the globe with her electrifying performances and unwavering passion for the sport. Beyond her numerous accolades and titles, Marin's legacy lies in the hearts of those who look up to her as a symbol of courage, perseverance, and the relentless pursuit of greatness.