IFFHS NEWS AND STATISTICS OF THE WEEK 31
Picture : Juve Champion !
JUVE CHAMPION !
The coronavirus pandemic's impact on the top of Serie A's table was that it just delayed what has come to be the inevitable: Juventus is once again the Italian league champion. Juventus put the finishing touches on a ninth straight Scudetto on Sunday, beating Sampdoria, 2-0, to go mathematically out of reach with two matches to go in the season. Second-place Inter Milan can only get to 82 points, one fewer than Juventus's current tally of 83. Atalanta, which has significantly outscored Juventus and has a far greater goal differential, and Lazio, the league's other two 2020-2021 Champions League entrants, can only get to 81.
HOUSTON DASH, NWSL CHAMPION 2020 !
The Houston Dash defeated Chicago Red Stars last week to capture their first Trophy in Club History and become 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Champions. Sophie Schmidt and Shea Groom netted the two goals and Forwad Rachel Daly took home the tournament’s Golden Boot Award, while Shea was named Challenge Cup Game MVP !
Jana Fernandez Velasco - Cuteness in the Catalan defense
The major problem in Barcelona women's lineup is a comparatively weak defense line. Which proved many times against European top teams. To solve the defense issue they undergo a long search for a suitable defender. However, they finally reached their own academy. It said that Barcelona B team has a high level of talent in every position. Barcelona's quest for a defender steps in front of homegrown talent Jana Fernandez.
Feb 18, 2002, Jana, born in a town named Sant Esteve Sesrovires in Catalonia. At the age of six, she faced two options and chose football over jazz without hesitation. She even started to play for local clubs at the same age. Moreover, years later she proved her decision was right by walking into Barcelona's first team royally. At the age of 12, she joined La Macia. The footballer inside her took shape from there. Just in three years, she reached the Spanish U 17 team. Many praised her performance as right back. Sometimes she played as a center back for the national youth team.
In 2018 she won two major titles for Spain U 17 team, UEFA U17 championship and FIFA U17 world cup. Jana Fernandez and other young talent Clàudia Pina were the first La Macia players to win those titles. Her performance for Spain youth team opens the door to Barcelona senior team. Barcelona decided to test her talent, maturity in game and leadership quality. They send Jana with the senior team to the 2018 US preseason tour. Later she debuted in Copa Catalonia and won the first Title with Senior team.
Jana is a well coordinated player and a key role between defense and attacking. In the Barcelona B team, her role as right full back was supported in their quick counter attacks. They relayed on Jana in their right wigs. Moreover Barcelona's strategy sometimes surrounded Jana and this shows her importance in the team. As a versatile player, she played in full back position or center back or even played as winger in the front line. Quick run and accurate short passes, skilled tackles all made her different and a promised prodigy.
Barcelona's defense looks strong only in papers. Maria Leon, Laia Codina, Ana Crnogorčević and Marta Torrejón made it uneasy for opponents. However, there is a lack of young talent. The champions league lost to Lyon, underlined this thought. At first as a solution for aging defense they approached Ona Battle, ex La Macia product. Jana's luck, Ona battle left Spain to Manchester United and Barcelona decided to sign the future of Spain in 2020.
End Note:
In Spanish football clubs called their youth department by name "Cantera". Barcelona named it famous " La Macia" and they produced world's best footballers from their Academy. La Macia produced top talents both in Men's and Women's football. More than half of the Spanish women team contain La Macia players. Barcelona academy played a vital role in the growth of Spanish women's football. Jana, Claudia, Laia and Carla are few among them. There are many young talents looking ahead of the future of the Spanish and Barcelona team.