Evergreen Putellas a shining light for fearsome Barcelona

Not even the sight of multiple construction cranes towering across the skyline could ruin the spectacle of Barcelona Femeni's grand return to the upgraded Spotify Camp Nou. Over 1,000 days on from their last appearance there, it had never felt more like home.

The red carpet was rolled out in celebration and Barcelona's stars indulged on their elevated stage, underlining the gulf in class between's Spain's Clasico giants. 'El nostre cami' read the mosaic that greeted the players on their entrance to the pitch: 'our path' or 'our way' in Catalan.

As predicted, the evening was a fiesta of football. A complete mismatch in Clasico terms, but an occasion more symbolic than the outcome of a match. It was a chance to reconnect after nearly three years away from this historic stadium.

Over 60,000 fans - the fourth highest total in competition history - took their chance to reacquaint themselves with Europe's most feared side. They are hot favourites for a fourth Champions League title.

Image: Barcelona returned to the Spotify Camp Nou to play in front of a capacity crowd against Real Madrid

Barca had already beaten Real Madrid five times in all competitions this season, but this particular result, 6-0 on the night, was perhaps the most compelling of the lot. Captain Alexia Putellas was at the centre of it. This, her 500th club appearance, will be remembered among many standouts as one of her most complete.

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Putellas is no stranger to the big occasion. She was built for it. In recent years she has had to share her spotlight with Aitana Bonmati, another of the women's game's most notorious, but as her midfield partner continues to recover from injury - pictured on the sidelines dressed head to toe in denim - Putellas luxuriated on her stage uncontested. The 'Cules' call her their queen.

Of course, she is not Barcelona's only superstar. Her side have scored 15 goals across three meetings with Real over the last eight days. The graphic below is a stark reminder of the force of Barca in free flow and perhaps also a clear indication of their Spanish supremacy. Real Madrid are Liga F's second-placed side.

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But Putellas herself commands respect on a different level. She has now struck in all four of Barcelona's Champions League games against Real. When she was replaced by Sydney Schertenleib in the 83rd minute after registering a goal and two assists - savour the no-look pass to tee-up Caroline Graham Hanson's second - the entire stadium rose in reverence. She got a hero's worship.

Every seat remained full 15 minutes after the final whistle to commemorate her 500th appearance, having now entered the club's top 10 appearance makers. And her team-mates appear to laud her as the eternal captain just as generously.

The Spotify Camp Nou were on their feet to applaud Alexia Putellas when she left the field

Image: The Spotify Camp Nou crowd were on their feet to applaud Putellas when she left the field

Patri Guijarro had been given the armband when Putellas departed for a rest late on but as soon she re-entered the field when the game was over Guijarro knew to hand the armband straight back. It felt significant, a gesture of power returned to its rightful owner.

Putellas has scored 15 times against Real, more than any other opponent in her career. Her strike in this latest meeting was as routine as they come but her command of the pitch more broadly was something to marvel. She touched the ball 102 times, second only to Guijarro's 122, and made 73 accurate passes.

Barcelona's Alexia Putellas celebrates her 500th club appearance

Image: Putellas celebrates her 500th club appearance

She is so much more than a midfielder, seemingly able to bend any game to her will. Few of the greats, perhaps bar Bonmati, do it with such a unique combination of grace and guile.

Midway through the first half she feinted to go one way and then jinked another, toying with Real, and the Camp Nou crowd roared in appreciation as if a goal had been scored. Few have that kind of affect on an audience. A chorus of 'el que no bote, cule es' followed, which is just a chant designed to get fans on their feet jumping.

Putellas and co had given them every reason to bounce.

Barcelona's Graham Hansen celebrates with Alexia Putellas

Image: Caroline Graham Hansen celebrates with Putellas

When the 32-year-old made her Barca debut in 2012 the club had not yet featured in Europe, much less been crowned champions. They will take some beating to be denied the title this year.

There is no scintilla of surprise to Barca's dominance on these captivating nights. It has come to be expected. But now the mission turns vengeful.

Should Barcelona beat Bayern Munich in their semi-final they will meet the winners of Arsenal vs Lyon. Those who followed last year's competition will recall how the Gunners shocked the whole of Europe in last year's final in Lisbon.

There is every chance of a repeat showdown this May. No one would welcome that chance more than Putellas.

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