Sonia on Barcelona bow

While FC Barcelona's male team have never failed to qualify for Europe, this season the female squad are making their UEFA Women's Champions League debut.

Their first match was last Wednesday at the Mini Estadi in the shadow of Camp Nou, and despite dominating the early stages of the round of 32 encounter, Barcelona ended up beaten 3-0 by experienced campaigners Arsenal LFC, champions in 2007. They visit the Gunners on Thursday for the second leg and the opportunity of playing in Europe has delighted Spain forward Sonia Bermúdez – who fell to defeat by the Gunners in 2010 with former club Rayo Vallecano de Madrid.

She speaks to UEFA.com about her dream first season at Barcelona where she led them to a maiden league title, the test of this competition and what she has learned from the man who became coach in 2011, Lionel Messi's first youth trainer Xavier Llorens. "He's a coach who gives you the liberty to play," Sonia says. "He lets you participate, and he's not constantly correcting you."

To watch the full interview click on the play button.