Caroline Weir motoring at Real Madrid after causing a roadblock on arrival as she lifts lid on eye-opening El Clasico

Driving into Madrid airport has presented Caroline Weir with way more problems than anything on the pitch as she has steered herself seamlessly into the Real Madrid midfield.

The 27-year-old Scottish midfielder assimilated quickly into Madrid with her season’s stats underlining just how pivotal she has become for the Spaniards. But it has not all been plain sailing.

“I went to pick my mum up at the airport and got stuck at a pay barrier,” explained the 27-year-old. “Everyone was shouting in Spanish behind me - it is just one lane - and they were all beeping their horns and honking away. There was no-one to help or a buzzer to press and I was really stressed out.

“I can get by with my Spanish now - and I know that terminal very well now! - but little things like that which would be easy to navigate at home were a lot harder. Even small things like driving on the other side of the road. Now I don’t even have to think about it.”

Weir - named Glen’s SFWA Women’s International Player of the Year- netted twice on Sunday as Real Madrid came from two goals down to beat Levante and while Barca have claimed the title, there is a Copa de la Reina semi-final next Wednesday to prepare for.

The 27-year-old midfielder can count herself as one of the first names on the teamsheet. So far there have been 19 league goals and six Champions League goals from her debut season in Spain.

To give those numbers their proper context, it is worth noting that Alexia Putellas, the Barcelona striker who has won back-to-back Ballon d’Ors and who was voted the best female player in the world by FIFA in 2021, has never bagged higher than 18 league goals. Driving herself to be bracketed among the elite was the reason for her move to Madrid from