Barcelona start Champions League defence hoping to refine perfection
Led by Ballon d'Or holder Aitana Bonmati and two-time winner Alexia Putellas, as well as other World Cup conquering stars, Barcelona are tasked with refining perfection.
Jonatan Giraldez's side came from two goals behind to beat Wolfsburg in June in Eindhoven, clinching their second Champions League win. They have reached four of the last five finals, winning twice, and can dream of extending their dominance in Bilbao next May.
Only traditional giants Lyon and Wolfsburg, as well as Sweden's Umea, have won the Champions League in consecutive years. Barcelona lifted a treble last season - Spain's Liga F, the Champions League and the Spanish Super Cup - but were disqualified from the Copa de la Reina.
Coach Giraldez wants the team to go one better this season and win everything, starting with their opener against Benfica on Tuesday.
"There's no need to look at where the ceiling is (for this team), but instead to get up every day to work and improve. It is very difficult to match and surpass last year's performance, but we have to work for it. We won three of four titles, so there is still room for improvement and we have to work for that," he said last week.
Barcelona face familiar opponents in the group, in Swedish champions Rosengard and Portuguese champions Benfica, both of whom were also in their group last season, and German side Eintracht Frankfurt.
"They are team that we know because we played against Benfica and Rosengard last season in the group stage. Eintracht, meanwhile, are a very strong side - I had the chance to watch them live last season against Wolfsburg, before the Champions League final," said Giraldez in October.
Barcelona's squad looks as strong as ever, with Salma Paralluelo starting the season in
Read on besoccer.com
