The board have priortised FCBf to a previously unknown level, as exemplified by the signing of Lieke Martens (and to a lesser extent Toni Duggan). There are multiple reasons for that, but two are that it helps the board look progressive at a time when they are under siege for a host of mistakes and that it gives the club an easy stick to hit Real Madrid with, as the Merengues still don't have women's team (though they are expected to start one soon). Given that their domestic competition is currently quite limited (Atleti, Athletic Club and Valencia being the other powers), the focus is very much on the Champions League.
The new ground should help FCBf, as they only rarely got to play at the Mini Estadi (mostly for Champions League knock out matches) and previously turned out what was essentially a training pitch with a small stand at the Ciutat Esportiva. The one downside of the location is that it is somewhat harder to reach by public transport than the more centrally located Mini Estadi (one needs to take a regional commuter train).
In any event, they will be happy with the draw against the Norwegians of Avaldsnes, who should provide decent competition without posing too great a risk of crashing out.
The new ground should help FCBf, as they only rarely got to play at the Mini Estadi (mostly for Champions League knock out matches) and previously turned out what was essentially a training pitch with a small stand at the Ciutat Esportiva. The one downside of the location is that it is somewhat harder to reach by public transport than the more centrally located Mini Estadi (one needs to take a regional commuter train).
In any event, they will be happy with the draw against the Norwegians of Avaldsnes, who should provide decent competition without posing too great a risk of crashing out.
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