It is an established fact that Barcelona has had an amazing run in the just concluded 2022/2023 season. The Catalan side won three trophies, the SuperCopa de Espana, the Liga F, and the UEFA Women’s Champions League. Filled with talented individuals, Barcelona’s season was made possible by the performances of her players. One of such players is the Swedish international, Fridolina Rolfo, who plays as a left full-back.
Rolfo, who joined Barcelona in the 2021/2022 season from German side VFL Wolfsburg, has since made the team’s starting eleven. As a left back, Rolfo completes a defense pairing of Mapi Leon, Irene Paredes, and Lucy Bronze. However, the Swedish international is one of a kind, a special breed, and an attacking full-back. Constantly running up and down the left wing, Rolfo adds a significant attacking threat to Barcelona’s play.
Not one to sit at the back and just obediently fulfill her defensive duties, Rolfo mostly plays as an additional winger on the left flank, delivering crosses into the opposition’s box for teammates to finish. And on some occasions, she finds her way into the box and executes her shot to perfection to get a goal for her team, with her winning goal in the Champions League final being one of such moments.
As a left full-back, Rolfo’s attacking prowess is what catches the eye when you watch her play the game. However, her defensive capabilities are just as stunning as her performance in attack. Despite going forward to create an additional attacking threat with her overlapping runs, Rolfo does not neglect her defensive duties. She has enough strength and pace to stand her ground when faced by an opponent, but what makes Rolfo’s defense unique is her ability to read the opponent’s passing lanes and cut them out.
We take a look at Rolfo’s performance this season in the Liga F and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
Fridolina Rolfo in the Liga F
The Swedish international played 21 matches in Liga F this season, she started 19 of those matches and came on as a substitute in two games. Rolfo played a total of 1584 minutes, in which she displayed her attacking and defensive abilities.
With 16 goal contributions, the full-back scored 8 goals while assisting 8 others for her teammates, for an average of 0.91 goal contributions per 90 minutes played. She delivered 88 crosses and had a successful take-on of 34.6% while performing her attacking duties on the left flank. She scored both penalties she attempted with a 100% penalty conversion rate.
Defensively, Rolfo won 25 out of 36 tackles attempted, intercepted 15 opposition passes, recovered 124 loose balls and won 45.5% of the aerial duels she contested in. She exhibited a disciplined performance throughout the season, getting only 2 yellow cards in all matches played.
Fridolina Rolfo in the UWCL
The left back made 11 appearances for Barcelona, starting 10 times and coming on once as a substitute, playing a total of 893 minutes. With 4 goals and 2 assists in the competition, Rolfo contributed to 6 of Barcelona’s goals in the Champions League. She delivered 116 crosses, and had a 46.7% successful take-on ratio.
Defensively, Rolfo recovered 142 loose balls, won 60% of her aerial duels, won 8 out of 14 attempted tackles, and made 4 interceptions to stop the opposition’s attack.
Key Moment of the Season
An unforgettable moment for both the player and Barcelona fans alike, is her goal in the UWCL final against Wolfsburg, that helped Barcelona to their second European title. The goal completed Barcelona’s dramatic comeback after going behind by two goals in the first half.
After teammate Patri Guijarro scored twice in two minutes to get Barcelona back into the game, Rolfo scored in the 70th minute after Wolfsburg’s defense failed to clear the ball out of their own penalty area. The full-back arrived into the box and pounced on the loose ball, perfectly placing her shot into the back of the net.
The goal ended up being all Barcelona required to dispatch their German counterparts and lift the European trophy for the second time in their history.
Watch Rolfo’s goal against VFL Wolfsburg in the UWCL final: INSANE COMEBACK | Every Goal From The 2022-23 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final
Summary of Fridolina Rolfo’s Season
Attacking Record
| Competition | Matches | Starts | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists | Crosses | Pass Completion | Successful Take-on |
| Liga F | 21 | 19 | 1584 | 8 | 8 | 88 | 81.1% | 34.6% |
| UWCL | 11 | 10 | 893 | 4 | 2 | 116 | 78.9% | 46.7% |
Defensive Record
| Competition | Tackles Attempted | Tackles Won | Interceptions | Aerial Duels Won | Ball Recoveries |
| Liga F | 36 | 25 | 15 | 45.5% | 124 |
| UWCL | 14 | 8 | 4 | 60% | 142 |
Looking at her performance this season, one can hardly imagine Barcelona’s team without Fridolina Rolfo. Thus, it goes without saying that the Swede has had an exceptional season.
Rolfo will be representing Sweden when they kick off their World Cup campaign against South Africa on the 23rd of July, and we wish her a successful run in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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