LaLiga Genuine Champions!

LaLiga Genuine Champions!

Barça Foundation crowned champions of the Compañerismo group of the LaLiga Genuine 2021-22, which culminated this weekend at the Lezama Facilities. They won all their games, as did Sevilla, but Barça take first place due to fair play points

Barça Foundation have been crowned champions of the Compañerismo group  of the LaLiga Genuine Santander the first time they have entered. The team made up of players with intellectual disabilities really enjoyed the competition, and managed to top it off by coming first in their group, played at the Lezama Facilities (Biscay). As in both previous phases in Las Palmas and Malaga, Barça behaved impeccably, experienced some very enriching moments, as well as winning all their games - this time against Granada CF, Fundación Málaga, and Fundación Reus.

Sevilla also won all their nine games in the competition. In fact, the race for the title between the Andalusian side and the Barça Foundation turned out to be thrilling, with fair play points ultimately deciding in Barça's favour. Yet another plus point regarding the LaLiga Genuine and the players coached by Sergi Mascarell and his team. The head coach unfortunately wasn't able to travel to Biscay due to feeling unwell, and although he was missed, Josep Ferré, Emili Gómez, Tina González and Beth Puigdesens all did a great job.

Surprise visit by Puyol

The Barça Foundation won a very hard-fought game against Granada CF (1-2) on Saturday morning and were visited by a Barça legend, none other than Carles Puyol. The game had already kicked off when he made his surprise visit, and the Catalan shared a few moments with the players on the Barça Genuine bench. Another win followed on Saturday afternoon, this time against Fundación Málaga (2-0), with Ale and Manel starring. Lastly, Barça Foundation made it three out of three on Sunday morning against Fundació Reus with a grandstand finish as Salva scored a goal in the last minute.

Genuine amb Puyol

Barça Foundation coach Josep Ferré's thoughts

“We were thrilled to create the team in September with so much ahead of us. All the coaches and players have been learning during every training session, every friendly game, and every phase of the LaLiga Genuine. Everything has grown so quickly and we are very happy. Not just because we have won games, but also about how we went about it”.

“We have been positively taken aback by how much this team have developed. Many of these players have experienced many challenges throughout their lives. There have been times when it didn't look like they could make progress, but they have felt sufficiently at ease in the Barça Foundation to help them develop as footballers”.

Barça Foundation psychologist, Beth Puigdesens' thoughts

“The Barça Foundation players have grown tremendously. They have been carrying a heavy burden and being able to form part of such a team in a Club like Barça has helped them grow as people. Tina González, Francesc Martínez and me have provided psychological support, particularly when it comes to controlling their emotions and impulses via personalised follow-up”.

Força Barça
Força Barça

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