Kamal Ghorui
Six months back they clashed in the group stage of the new 18-team single-group format of UEFA Women’s Champions League. Then Barcelona had made a dream start to their European campaign with a 7-1 rout of Bayern Munich.The shapeshifting star of that Oct fixture, Esmee Brugts, who scored a hat-trick while starting the game as a striker and finishing it as a full-back, however believes it might not be as comfortable for the Catalans when the teams face off in the first leg of the semifinal in Munich.“The first game against them was a while ago, and with a different context. We know it will never be the same again. And that’s football. Every game is different and we have to be as prepared as we can, that’s what we train for,” Brugts said during a media interaction as her team stands on the verge of a sixth consecutive UWCL final.The 22-year-old Dutchwoman, who joined Barcelona from PSV Eindhoven in 2023, has been an integral part of Spanish coach Pere Romeu’s scheme this season, where they lost just one match to clinch their seventh Liga F title on the trot on Wednesday.The Catalans have also not lost any UWCL game since their nightmarish summit clash last season against Arsenal, where they had 20 shots on target against the English club’s eight, yet lost 1-0 to a decisive goal from Stina Blackstenius.This time they reached the semifinal by topping the group stage and beating rivals Real Madrid twice in the quarterfinal, with the second leg a return for the team to Camp Nou and Brugts having scored in both legs.Having all her role models — Dutch striker Lieke Martens, Ronaldinho and Neymar — with a Catalan link, and as a child, having famously asked for a Camp Nou tour on her birthday, Brugts acknowledged “her privilege” in striving for the Spanish club and her focus towards winning her second UWCL title with them, which will be the fourth for the Spanish champions.“Playing in Barcelona makes you hungry. As a top athlete, you are hungry to go for more. I think I’m surrounded by such players that are also never satisfied with what we have. We always want more and I learn so much by being surrounded by these teammates,” said the youngster, who has been nominated by UEFA as one of the Breakthrough Players of UWCL 2025-26.With the likes of the recovering Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas up front, Brugts has made a place for herself as a versatile “playmaking defender” — having already played as winger, wing-back, right-back and full-back in Romeu’s setup.“I have several roles, it depends really on the plan of the game,” she explained.“I remember my first goal against Bayern Munich. I had the freedom to play inside more like a midfielder, you could say. This is Barca, though, and we are all very free to play where we can. It also depends on Pere (Romeu), where he wants to utilise me in each game. Yeah, I can play on the outside, inside, further up the field, it all depends,” she added.Having scored 10 goals so far in all competitions — with four of them in UWCL — and provided six assists, the Dutch international has already proved her value to her team.And with Brugts confirming the return of three-time Ballon D’Or winner Bonmati to Barcelona’s training sessions after a five-month injury hiatus, the Blaugranes will be eager to make their second sojourn at the Allianz Arena a memorable one.“We are quite happy with how it’s been so far,” she said, “But I’d say something that describes how we are in Barcelona. We are never satisfied with what we have, we always want more.”(Fans can watch UEFA Women’s Champions League exclusively on FanCode)
