The impossible happened in Liga F: Barcelona, who had held a tight grip on Spanish women's soccer for years, incredibly lost 2-1 at home to modest Levante to bring an astonishing end to their record unbeaten streak of 46 games in the competition.
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A rare slip-up
One does not expect them to lose against a team sitting second to last in the standings. Barcelona had piled on the victories with authority and seemed to present the Spanish Super Cup trophy to the fans before the match like some sort of further chapter in a success story in full flow. But four minutes into the second half, a brilliant curling shot opened the scoring for Levante courtesy of María de Alharilla. The blow was heavier when Ivonne Chacón extended it in stoppage time following a quick counterattack. Fridolina Rölfo pulled one back, but it was too little, too late.
But a question begs to be answered: what's happened to Barcelona? The statistics still suggest that they're superior. Standing alone atop the table with 48 points, Barça still maintains a tight grasp on the title chase, an eight-point cushion over Real Madrid, which still has a game in hand. But losing at home to a relegation battler is simply not something to be glossed over.
Absoluta dominance… with a few exceptions
It was way back in May 2023 that Barcelona last lost a Liga F game, at the hands of Madrid CFF. Since then, the Catalans had amassed 45 wins and one draw. Who was that draw against? The same Levante that fought out that 1-1 scoreline back last February. Meaning that in the last 47 league matches, only Levante had managed to prevent a victory for Barcelona. Coincidence or does this Valencian side know just how to play on the weak links of Catalans?
It should be remembered that Barcelona has won three out of the last five domestic titles, losing no single match. In the 2021/22 season, they were perfect, having won all 30 matches; in the other two title-winning campaigns, they lost just once.
Levante had only a few clear chances in the match but were ruthlessly efficient, while Barcelona managed an astonishing 47 shots and couldn't find the back of the net enough to avoid a shocking defeat