FC Barcelona have another date with history this Saturday at 18:00. San Mamés will host the clash between the blaugranas and Olympique Lyon in the final of the UWCL. The most eagerly awaited match of the season is just around the corner and it couldn’t have better protagonists.
A UWCL final for the history books:
The biggest week in European women’s football has arrived. The continent’s two fittest and most in-form teams face each other in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final. FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyon meet in a historic duel of great importance for both sides.
FC Barcelona will be contesting their fourth consecutive UWCL final, their fifth in the last six years. They have won two of them against Chelsea and Wolfsburg, but lost the other two finals to Olympique Lyon in 2019 and 2022. The French side are the black beast of the Catalans and, moreover, the team with the most titles won (eight) and European finals contested (10).
It is very difficult to say who is the favourite in this type of match, but in this case it is even more so. At first sight, FC Barcelona are sweeping the field and breaking all records, so they should be the favourites. However, Olympique Lyon are a team that are very good at this type of match.
Jonatan Giráldez and Jocelyn Prêcheur‘s approach will be a key point on the San Mamés pitch. FC Barcelona have the advantage of playing in Spain and in a place where they have already played in Liga F against Athletic Club. Moreover, all the tickets have been sold out and there will be a large blue and blue majority. Bilbao will become a festival of women’s football and, for this reason, has set up fan zones.
FC Barcelona arrive at the final with all their players in good form, except for the absence of Mapi León. It is almost impossible to guess the XI of the final with the level that all the players are giving. Players like Aitana Bonmatí and Graham Hansen, who will be fighting for the Golden Ball, will be in the spotlight, and this type of match is crucial for these awards.
For their part, Olympique Lyon arrive with possible important absentees: Griedge Mbock Mathy, Eugénie Le Sommer, Sara Däbritz or Ada Hergerberg, who arrives in cotton wool. However, the French squad has plenty of quality and will know how to adapt to this situation with players like Renard, Damaris Egurrola and Diani, top scorer in the competition with eight goals.
It has to be said that both teams have swept their respective leagues, Spain and France, and have been champions without any problems. Barça have done so without losing a game, while Lyon conceded a defeat to Girondins de Bordeaux. The blaugranas have also won the Spanish Super Cup and recently, with a thrashing of Real Sociedad, the Queen’s Cup 8-0.
Both teams have shown that they can also have ‘bad’ games. Indeed, Lyon were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France by Fleury 91 on penalties. FC Barcelona have had only one defeat and that was in the first leg of the UWCL semi-final against Chelsea. The second leg, at Stamford Bridge, ended in a comeback.
Barça are the current champions of the tournament and to defend this title they will have to achieve something they haven’t yet managed to do: beat Olympique Lyon. There is no better stage and no better time than now to achieve it, especially to overcome the ghosts of the past. It is also a golden opportunity for Barça to make history and achieve a fourth title in one year by lifting the UWCL.
Will FC Barcelona beat their black beast?
Translated by Marcos Rodríguez.
Main image: @FCBfemeni.
At ELXIIDEAL we have a great opportunity to advertise your business via our website and social media network.
