FC Barcelona Femení are setting incredible standards in the women’s game. From 2018, when Olympique Lyon dominated European football, the gap between Europe’s best teams had been closing according to our World Super League Model. Now, however, Barcelona threaten to open a new chasm back to their rivals (below), in an era of rising professionalism across the game.

The Spanish club should progress to the Women’s Champions League semi finals tomorrow, and are odds-on to lift the title. They have won 32 of 34 competitive games this season, with an average scoreline of 4.4 goals to 0.4 against.

The temptation is to question whether this lack of jeopardy serves the long-term interests of women’s football. But that is not Barcelona’s problem to solve – they have built a squad with strong La Masia roots and integrated top international stars. For now, they are to be marvelled.