Aitana Bonmatí returns for Barcelona after 16 months: "The pain was a rollercoaster"

Aitana Bonmatí is back. The FC Barcelona midfielder came on for the final 13 minutes of the Liga F Moeve clash at Logroño United (0-2), plus five minutes of stoppage time, bringing an end to an absence that had lasted more than a year. Her previous official appearance dated back to June 9, when she featured for Spain against Iceland in a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup.

Key points from Aitana Bonmatí's return

• Aitana played 18 minutes and was included in a matchday squad for the first time this season.
• It was her first appearance since playing for Spain on June 9, 2024.
• The fibula injury required surgery and led to a personalized recovery plan.
• Clàudia Pina travelled to Logroño but did not play as a precaution after a foot knock.
• Next week brings a Champions League tie against Roma and a Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou.

A return built on patience after a serious fibula injury

The road back for the player from Sant Pere de Ribes was anything but straightforward. Since that June international, she had been dealing with discomfort linked to a serious fibula injury that required surgery and kept her out of action for most of last season. Her comeback with the club finally arrived on the night in Logroño.

The process has been guided by an individualized plan, with no forced deadlines. Aitana herself described it as a daily lesson in understanding her own body, built on patience and the desire to avoid further setbacks. Making the squad was the first major step, and it was followed by real minutes at Las Gaunas.

Aitana's reflection: "The pain was a rollercoaster"

Shortly after the final whistle, Barcelona's fourth captain did not hide her emotion at feeling like a footballer again. Her message focused on the joy of the moment and the difficult path she had walked since the injury appeared in December.

I am very happy to have been able to play football. It has been a difficult few months since I got injured in December. It has been a day-by-day learning process in knowing my body. I don't want to find myself injured again, but I am very happy with this work in the shadows and with patience because the pain was a rollercoaster.

A win that mattered beyond the scoreline in Logroño

Beyond her own return, Aitana highlighted the value of the 0-2 win at a difficult venue. Pushing back against the idea that only emphatic scorelines count, she underlined the challenge of the trip, the condition of the pitch and the number of rotations made by the team.

You can't win every game 0-6, and it seems like if you don't win like that it doesn't count, but we did it on a difficult pitch, where the surface was not in perfect condition, but we won.

The midfielder also praised the young players who got minutes in Logroño, recalling her own experience of breaking into the first team at a young age. For Aitana, performing in those circumstances is not easy, and the fact that the group earned the win with so many fresh faces only adds to the merit of the result.

What comes next: Roma in Europe and a Clásico at Camp Nou

Aitana's return coincides with one of the most attractive weeks on the Barcelona calendar. First comes the European fixture against Roma, followed by the Liga F Clásico against Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou.

The only player with three Ballon d'Or awards made no secret of her excitement for the double challenge. She knows these are the games that define a season and that Real Madrid have raised their level with new signings, so she expects a competitive contest. Even so, her message is clear: as a culé, she wants to win every Clásico, and the week's preparation is focused on securing both victories, first in Rome and then against the eternal rival.

Frequently asked questions about Aitana Bonmatí's return