FC Barcelona Pushing for Women’s Clasico with Madrid Inclusion

FC Barcelona, known for their dominance in Spanish football, are pushing for rivals Real Madrid to field a women’s team in an effort to use El Clasico to boost the women’s game overall. The move is quite savy and could be just the push it needs for the Spanish giants to engulf yet another area of football. FC Barcelona Femini finished in second place in last seasons Primera Division, one point under Atletico Madrid. Still, the Catalan side is in the final of the Women’s UEFA Champions League, hoping to bring home the top prize for the first time in their history.  “I think it would be really good for women’s football,” said team vice-president Jordi Mestre to ESPN. “It would add the competitiveness of the Clasico. There are already a lot of Primera Division sides with a women’s team. A Clasico would surely generate a lot more interest as well” This past season the Primera Division Femenina de Futbol celebrated their 30th campaign with Athletic Bilbao being the most successful club with five titles. Barcelona have four with their last title coming in 2015. Much like the men’s first division, regional rivalries prove to be the most impactful. No fixture produces more tension in Spanish football than Real Madrid vs. Barcelona and to extend it to the women’s game seems like a natural progression necessary to push the league to a higher standard.  “I think for women’s football it would be a huge attraction. But each club has their own projects and their own strategy. If Real Madrid don’t have a women’s team at the moment, I suppose it’s because they don’t consider it an interesting project.” Jordi Mestre added. The league has produced several standouts heading to the World Cup in Spain including forwards Esther Gonzalez and Olga Garcia. 

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