Real Madrid’s women’s coach Pau Quesada declared that his side are “under‑valued” after a 2‑2 draw with Bayern Munich in the UEFA Women’s Champions League (UWCL) on Wednesday. The match, played at the Allianz Arena, saw Madrid take an early two‑goal lead through Athenea del Castillo and Lineth Beerensteyn before Bayern fought back with goals from Edna Imade and Momoko Tanikawa. The result leaves the Spanish club in 10th place in the group, having collected three points from three matches against Paris Saint‑Germain, Manchester City and now Bayern.
Quesada, speaking to Disney+ after the game, defended the team’s overall record despite the draw. He pointed out that the club has been eliminated in the UWCL quarter‑finals by the eventual champions in the past two seasons. “If we hadn’t faced Barça, we would have won more than one trophy already,” he said. “If we played in England, we would have won the English league; if we played in Germany, we could have won the German league.” The coach stressed that the club must raise its standards and not see the lack of silverware as a problem but as a motivation to demand more from itself.
The coach’s comments also highlighted the perceived impact of rival Barcelona on Madrid’s ambitions. “Sometimes we aren’t valued enough because we have that brake which Barça impose on us, in terms of winning trophies,” Quesada said. He noted that Barcelona have dominated the Spanish women’s game, winning the UWCL four times, including last season, and claiming seven consecutive Liga F titles. In the 26 Clásico meetings between the two clubs, Barcelona have won 25, with Madrid’s only triumph coming in March 2025.
Quesada added that Barcelona are “the worst enemy” for any team they face because of their established structure and long‑term cohesion, yet he remains confident that Madrid can beat them. “We can beat them. We’ll beat them this season,” he said. He urged the squad to replicate the performances seen against Manchester City and Bayern, stressing that a draw is not enough for a club that wants to win. The match’s outcome keeps Madrid in the middle of the group table, but the team will look to improve in the remaining fixtures as they aim to overturn the perceived deficit caused by their fiercest rivals.