Barcelona visit Deportivo Abanca at Riazor with a clear incentive: a win would move them six points clear of Real Madrid in Liga F. It is the kind of weekend that can shift the mood of a title race quickly, and Romeu has already made it clear that the focus has to stay on freshness, balance and putting the Champions League setback behind them.
The context is straightforward. Before the round, Barça led Real Madrid by four points, but Madrid’s 3-3 draw against Badalona Women at the Alfredo di Stéfano has opened the door for Barcelona to build a bigger cushion. That makes this trip to Galicia more than just another league match. It is an opportunity to strengthen control at the top while also showing that the response to Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal can be immediate.
Romeu wants a reaction, not just a result
Romeu said the team have to move on from the chances they missed in the previous game, stressing that Barcelona were the better side and that their ambition is always to win. That is an important message for a squad that has built its reputation on standards as much as scorelines. A team like Barça can draw encouragement from control and territory, but the demand is always to turn superiority into points.
He also explained that changes were necessary because the Thursday match created a heavy physical load. In his words, the staff have to move the XI around and keep the legs fresh after what he described as a major effort. That matters here because this is not only about quality. It is also about whether Barcelona can manage the rhythm of a busy week without losing sharpness in a league match that now carries added value.
What Deportivo Abanca bring to the game
Deportivo Abanca arrive in mid-table after a 0-2 defeat to Valencia, and their defensive record gives Barcelona another reason to believe this is a match they should control. They have conceded 13 goals in 10 jornadas, which suggests there will be space for Barça if they move the ball cleanly and maintain the tempo they usually impose.
That said, these are exactly the kinds of fixtures where a title contender is judged on professionalism. The opponent may not carry the same weight as the European tests, but the pressure is still real because the outcome can influence the gap at the top. If Barcelona handle the game properly, they will not just respond to the Arsenal draw — they will turn Madrid’s slip into a stronger position for the weeks ahead.
For Barça, then, the assignment is simple on paper and more demanding in practice: manage the rotation, stay alert after a demanding Thursday night, and take advantage if the chance comes. With the league table in play, this is the sort of away trip that can quietly shape the title picture.
