Saturday’s Women’s Champions League final will pit European football dynasties past and present against each other.
The matchup between Barcelona and OL Lyon in Oslo will be the fourth time in eight seasons that modern powerhouse teams have played for the European title, and the first since Lyon. Rebranded by owner Michelle Kang.
tied on points in new Champions League format Ranks first among 18 teams In December.
Both teams are undefeated in domestic competitions this season, and are both aiming for the fourth title.
“These are probably the two best teams of all time,” said Nadine Kessler, UEFA’s director of women’s football. She herself won the Champions League three times before Lyon began their five-game winning streak in 2015.
This will be Barcelona’s sixth final in a row and seventh in eight years, in an era formed by great attacking midfielders Aitana Bommatti and Alexia Putelas.
Lyon have talismanic player Wendy Leonard Ada Hegerbergcaptain and hat-trick scorer respectively Barcelona lost 4-1 in the 2019 finals.
There’s an additional layer of intrigue in the dugout between teams who know each other well.
Lyon coach Jonathan Giraldes He won back-to-back Champions League titles with Barcelona while current manager Pere Romeu was an assistant.
overcome troop reductions
Barcelona returned to the finals a year after their expected third consecutive title was denied by their opponents. Arsenal win 1-0.
The season started in some turmoil due to squad cuts forced as part of wider financial issues for clubs to meet restrictions set in men’s La Liga.
Their dominance on the field has increased once again. They retained their Spanish league title with two matches remaining, and their record so far is 27 wins, 1 loss, and 1 point difference in 28 games. The 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in November was the only game Barcelona lost all season.
The Spanish Cup and Super Cup trophies were also lifted, with Romeu’s team topping the league standings before defeating Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to reach the Champions League final.
Barcelona are favorites to win their fourth European title after 2021, 2023 and 2024. Finally won 2-0 against Lyon..
Prosper with Can Owner
Coach Giraldes and OL Lyons’ first season under the name went well for owner Michel Cann.
Lyon led the league with an undefeated record in the regular season and won both domestic cup matches. The only games remaining are Oslo on Saturday and next Friday’s home match against Paris FC in the French league play-off final.
The only defeats throughout the season were in the first round of the Champions League finals against Wolfsburg and away to Arsenal, where the title holders were dethroned away from home. Lost 1-3 in the second leg against Lyon.
If they can lift both trophies next week, Renard will secure a record-extending ninth European title and an incredible 19th French league title.
At 35, the renowned central defender is older than both coaches on Saturday. Lyon’s Giraldes is 34 years old, and Romeu is 32.
Girardes came to Lyon from Barcelona in the offseason last year at the invitation of Coach Can, and ended up leading the team he also owns, the Washington Spirit.
Prize money
The new league phase format, with a broadcast deal on Disney+, has injected 26 million euros ($30.15 million) into the Champions League prize fund for 74 clubs. For the men’s edition, 36 clubs will share approximately 2.44 billion euros ($2.83 billion) this season.
Barcelona has so far received 1.455 million euros ($1.69 million) from UEFA, while Lyon will receive 10,000 euros ($11,600) less for second place in the league standings.
Saturday’s winner will receive a bonus of 500,000 euros (about $580,000), while the losing finalist will receive 300,000 euros (about $348,000).
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